in fallout 3 i was able to get a house fairly early on in the game...i've been playing new vegas for a while now, and i was just wondering IF and WHEN i will get a house

Go to Novac and get a hotel.

It's really convenient and you can get this really early in the game.

Also you get the presidential suite when you get to Vegas

There's a red (I think) house near a larger trailer in Goodsprings that gives no penalties for sleeping in any of the beds or taking any of the items within it - Part of me believes that, in a way, that is 'your' house in the beginning.

There's a few places. The Abandoned Shack near the Yangtze Memorial looks safe, but I've been ambushed by Giant Radscorps leaving it before. Wolfhorn Ranch, in between Nipton and Novac is a good place, although it doesn't give you the Well Rested Perk. You should go there anyway, just for Chopper. The first house you can own properly looks to be in Novac, which you can get after completing the missions for Manny and Boone (or paying 100 caps).

You can use the Doctor's home you wake up from. He doesn't take anything.

-Victor's shack in Goodsprings
-Hotel room in Novac

That's pretty much all I've found so far, besides the suite in Lucky 38.