LOTS of advice here, probably too much but most of it good. I've bought three homes, and I do differentiate there. Lots of my freinds buy houses with the thought in mind of what they might be able to sell it for. I've owned a townhouse in Hawaii, a large (to me) home in Florida with lots of space for relatives, a pool, hot tub, etc, and now an 1855 row house in an even older town. As different as they were, all three have been my loves of my life. With the exception of this one, I really thought I'd live in each one for the rest of my life. Here I know better; way too many stairs and steps for us after another decade. But I still love it, and if we don't make a dime from it, and only pour money into it (a real possibility with an oldie), I still love it. My husband fell in love with the dining room (where people really like to congregate), me with the old kitchen (old, not old fashioned) and we both like knowing the history of the place (we've met almost everyone living who owned it, and by proxy the couple who owned it at the turn of the century). But I honestly loved the two other homes I've owned (and several that I rented as well). I think that I weigh in with those who mentioned trying to find out what the monthly payments will be. Easier said than done. But if you're constantly worrying about the mortgage, it is hard to enjoy the home.
