re: Buying an apartment directly out of college

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My first year out of college I bet I got 15 messages on LinkedIn asking if I had interest in a job. You have no money to put down so you'll have zero equity and will pay PMI. If you want to move after 2 years you'll lose money after paying realtor fees, insurance, etc. There's no reason to rush into buying, especially when you don't have any money.

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That's it, in a nutshell. Buying property makes you less mobile, less flexible, less open to opportunity. You're thinking of "rent=throwing money away" and that's a false equivalency. You can still save money--save away. Rent a cheaper place, or find some roommates who live in a fancier place and want to rent a BR to help with their note. It's far less painful to break a 1-year lease than it is to sell a house, especially if you're relocating to another area.

You say you "won't ever have to worry about a truck note"....ah, the optimism of youth. Companies can & do change their benefits on a whim, or on a market downturn, or on a merger or acquisition. The only guarantee is the paycheck you've already earned.

Focus instead on building a cash reserve, learning your job, finding out what it takes to get promoted in your company & in your industry. That might mean additional training or graduate school, which might require you moving in 2-3 years if you want to continue to grow your career. If you're tied to a mortgage, you will be less inclined to seize the opportunities coming your way.

Besides, you should be stacking cash & traveling right now, while you're young, have fewer responsibilities, and can take advantage of airfare sales & last minute opportunities.