So, Matt & are looking at houses. Mom thinks we should stay in an apartment for a year or two, and save up money until we have enough of a down payment that we don’t need PMI . However, staying in an apartment long enough to bank a 20% down payment (around $20,000) means staying in an apartment for a LOT longer than I care to. Plus, the entire time we’re saving the down payment, we’ll still be flushing $600 a month down the toilet in rent payments. Honestly, I’d rather start putting equity in a house and deal with the PMI, rather than deal with an apartment’s lack of space and waste money on rent payments. As an added bonus, apparently now it’s a buyer’s market here in Grand Rapids. So, what do we want in a house? We’re not rich, so we’re hoping to pay between $90K and $110K – that should hopefully keep our monthly payments at about $700 a month. I specifically do NOT want a split-level/raised ranch. I just hate that style. I want a decent sized kitchen; decent sized is rather subjective, so I want more space than I have currently in my apartment. I want counter space, and a closet or pantry nearby for storage. We’d prefer 1.5 baths; 1 bath is acceptable if it’s a one-story, but at least 1.5 is preferable for more than one-story. 2 bedrooms is a minimum; 3 bedroom or 2 bedroom and an office would be a bonus. I want an actual dining room; not just a “breakfast nook” or “dining area.” Someplace where we can fit a table with up to 7 or 8 people around it. We’d also like it relatively close to work – I’d prefer east of Division, but we can make exceptions. High-speed internet access availability is a must, be it cable or DSL; we are geeks, after all. This being Michigan, I’d also want a 2 stall garage, so my car doesn’t have to suffer outside in the snow. An attached garage would be great, but unattached is ok so long as it’s not a hike from the house to the garage. Washer/dryer hookups are a must – I’m sick of dropping $2.50 a load to wash and dry. A dishwasher would be great, as well. So, we broke it down into two lists; must-haves and bonuses.

Does anyone else have any thoughts on the matter? Things we should consider?