[summer_gphib]

Get your credit in order, and the financial documents you'll need ahead of time. Go ahead and start organizing bank statements, w-2's, and the last few years tax returns. That way you won't be scurrying (like we were) at the bitter end.

I can't agree more with the home inspection. We have gotten to the inspection part of the buying process and backed out of two houses because of bad (really, really bad) inspection reports. The inspector on the last one found things I never would have dreamed of looking for. For example their "new roof" found that they had put up tar paper and shingles with whole sections having no wood behind it, electrical shock risks in the pool, etc.

Also check commute times, and community resources in the area. Calculate that into the price as well. So if it's going to take you twice the amount of gas weekly to get to and from work, remember that it's a consideration.

Also (others have said it) remember to take into account taxes and insurance and if you are going to put it into escrow, calculate it montly.

You may want to consider a lender that allows penalty free pre payment. Our lender has a pay 52 program, where we can make 1/4 payments weekly instead of one montly payment. You end up making a total of 13 montly payments a year with the additonal payment going to principal only. It ends up cutting 7 years of the loan. Not that you will stay there that long, but it adds equity.