With the uncertainty of freelance income, you should carefully consider tying up your income in a mortgage note, at least until you've had some time to adjust to the variations of freelance cashflow versus a regular paycheck.
In my first self-employment gig, I avoided buying a house for 10 years because I didn't want a mortgage expense influencing my business decisions. I contributed both to a SEP and a taxable investment portfolio. The latter as an emergency fund if the business ever bled red. Fortunately, I never had to tap into my savings, but even with a fairly reliable income stream, it was a relief not to worry about monthly cash flow (*).
Some may argue that, well, I had to pay rent anyway, but rent expenses can be adjusted in a variety of ways, e.g. roommates, moving to cheaper digs, etc.
* However, lest anyone think I was exceptionally astute, I also bought a new car on credit during this time. This poor financial decision was only mitigated slightly in that I could claim it as a business expense.