Worth extending that to: somewhere to live where you have more control over your tenure there (can't be kicked out year by year), and ability to make more than basic changes to your living environment (knock down a wall, add an extension, etc).

I remember as I approached 20, I was watching the real estate market weekly and bought my first property at around 22 (which felt two years later than I wanted). I expected that the market would grow slowly, but that aforementioned control over the home was the main factor for me at that time. Now I bet it feels like you buy ASAP or get priced out of the market for the duration of your working life.

You can live in an apartment.