If you do not like to do it that way, you can always buy some land and get a tiny house or a pop up house or even a mobile home and go that route. It is best to find land that has water and septic already hooked up or you may have to pay for that but hey, it is cheaper than having to spend $200,000 for a brand new house. This way allows you to save money until you can get better especially in this economy.
Another way is you can try to find rent to own places. I know a lot of people do not do these anymore but you can always ask, you will never know if you do not ask. Our home was going to be rent to own but due to conditions of it, the age and the previous owner sold it to the guy we bought it from as a bundle with other rentals, the bank would not allow it to be until he paid for it to be undone and brought his lawyers in to help fix it.
If you happen to find a mobile home lot with used or repo mobile homes, they some times have package deal where you can get a mobile home and land too for one price and or you can pretty much rent to own it until it is paid off.If you are looking for mobile homes for sale or rent, I recommend Mobile Home Village because it pretty much shows you mobile homes for sale and rent everywhere and every state. There is some hope.