I don't really have any idea of owning a home for the rest of my life. Even making enough money to potentially get close seems impossibly out of reach.
This is partially why "squatters' rights" was a law. Live in a home for a certain number of years, and it's legally yours if the "owner" suddenly shows up and tries to kick you out. It also had to do with banks selling property that people already owned, but that's just another form of corporate skullduggery.
First time home buyers in the US don't need any cash for a down payment or closing costs. You can roll it all into the mortgage. This is how the majority of first time homebuyers get started. You just need a good credit score and enough income to qualify for the mortgage - which is impossible in some cities and easy on a McDonalds wage in others.