re: First time home buyer

I don't have advice about the transaction, as that is just a damn mystery...honestly, you can work your arse off trying to read it and understand it, but I am not sure anyone but an attorney can really understand what you are signing...

now, as far as the actual home ownership is concerned....first off, as cool as it sounds, there is nothing magical about home ownership. having a house will try your patience, as shite is constantly needing to be fixed or updated.

my one piece of advise would be to either buy a house in the country that has space between you and your neighbor of a house in a nice subdivision with damn strong covenants...if you end up with a bad neighbor in an apartment complex, you just move. however, if you wind up with a shitty neighbor in a subdivision, you are stuck.

I would look for strong rules concerning noise (dogs barking, etc.) as well as rules against renting out houses....