If your savvy and spend a while reading up on the facts and jargon before you commit to credit or a mortgage you don't need it, i certainly didn't, I'm 24 and on my second house & mortgage and second car loan (first ones paid off) Ive a few credit cards too that i have always paid in full on time, whilst taking advantage of 0% offers!
My advice to anyone thinking of buying within the next few years is to get your credit rating up at least by having a credit card that you use regularly and pay off in full each month.
Alot of folk slate them but nowadays you'd be daft not to have one, few people know it but if you buy or pay something on credit card and you have a problem with the goods or service you are not liable, the credit card company is, so for example you have some work done by a garage, you pay on the plastic and a week later the car falls apart, if the garage won't sort it or give you a refund, the credit card company should take over and sort it out!
They're worth their weight in gold for the protection you get using it for online/phone mail order stuff too!