Your first home purchase will not be your dream house. But buying that first home will put you on the path to eventually get your dream house.
We live in a state of instant gratification, where we stretch to the absolute limit to buy what we can “afford.” But if you are smart with your money, and take baby steps along the way, that will enable you to afford your dream home down the road instead of being house poor right now.
The longer you can delay “gratification,” the better off you’ll be.