re: First time home buyer - need advice

If you don't have 20% to put down, you're gonna be paying PMI....which is simply throwing money away. About the only way I'd buy with a short occupancy horizon like yours is if you are very handy and can find a distressed/unrenovated property & handle the renovations yourself. Sort of a live-in flip. But you are probably better off renting since you clearly plan to move....