In the case of rentals, particularly if you’re on the lower end of income, I think the honest truth is, you get rejected for so many you give up hoping until eventually you move into whatever mould dungeon you can afford and will accept you

In the case of buying, I have no clue. It’s weird. You’ve gotta visualise yourself/your family actually living there to figure out if it’s right for you, but that process is almost certain to cause some attachment