‘I do actually work’: A 21-year-old TikTok star was harassed to tears after purc...

Katylee Bailey recently celebrated purchasing her first home outright at the age of 21 — popping a confetti cannon shaped like a champagne bottle in a TikTok video that has since garnered over 4 million views.

"Mortgage free and a [homeowner] at 21 baby!!!" reads the caption.

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Some viewers, however, criticized the British social media influencer, calling her celebration insensitive toward those who don’t have the means to afford housing.

“Meanwhile everyone else has real jobs and struggle to make ends meet,” one commenter wrote.

Bailey later posted another video with a tearful apology.

"I'm sorry to anyone who feels like I'm bragging about the house thing," she said. "I do actually work, and let me tell you something, social media is so mentally draining.”

High prices and mortgage rates have made it difficult for many would-be buyers to purchase a home, but it’s not impossible. For those of us who are on the more traditional 9-to-5 grind and aren’t lucky enough to earn as much as influencers like Bailey, there are other ways to work toward homeownership.

Boost your credit score

If you don’t have the funds to buy your dream home with an all-cash offer, you’re going to need a mortgage. But with average rates still well over 6% right now, you’ll likely get hit with higher monthly payments.

Still, you can get a more affordable rate with a higher credit score — applicants with scores of 740 or higher typically enjoy the lowest interest rates.

So check your score with your bank or an online provider, make sure you’re paying all your bills in full and on time and work toward getting rid of any lingering debts you still owe. Having a lower debt-to-income ratio will help boost your credit.