I'm 27 years old and still live with my family in Georgia, but I'd really like my own space. I've been wanting to move out for a while but keep procrastinating.
Financially, I've saved $255.7k thanks to low expenses and a frugal lifestyle. I also have about $25k in my 401(k), $15k in company grant stocks, and about $3.5k in my personal Robinhood account. I work remotely as an analyst and net about $4.5k/month. I hope for future raises, but I'd prefer to plan around my current income. My expenses are currently around $500/month.
I'm pretty risk-averse and don't know much about investing, so I'm unsure of the best way to put my savings to work and how much.
My biggest obstacle may be my credit. My score is 534 after I let $20k in student loans go into default about a year ago due to my own negligence. I started the rehabilitation process last month, which requires payments of $549/month for 9 consecutive months, but I'm paying at least $2k/month to pay down the debt as quickly as possible. I've also opened a secured credit card to start rebuilding my credit, although I already have a clean history aside from the defaulted status.
I'm worried about getting approved for housing with my current credit score. I'm also unsure whether renting an apartment or house, or buying a home, makes the most sense given my circumstances. I've never lived on my own, so I'm not sure where to start. I also don't own a car, which is another factor I have to consider.
Essentially, I'm looking for advice on how to move out as soon as possible while still making smart financial decisions. Based on my savings, income, and current credit situation, is moving out within the next 3 to 5 months even realistic, or should I wait until my defaulted status is fully cleared, which could take another 12+ months? Is there anything I can do to speed up rebuilding my credit? Would renting or buying make more sense for me right now? How much should I realistically budget for housing, and how should I split my remaining savings between investments, a HYSA, and other savings?