re: First time House Buyer....advice/ suggestions?

Background: I just bought a house in Geismar, 227K got a conventional 30yr loan with 3.5% through Iberia bank (great to work with Btw). Most peoples first home is not your last home, why strech yourself so thin by putting 20% down. PMI is not as bad as people make it out to be Espcially if you have good credit and put around 10% down. Ther is a a special deal many people don't know about called super premium mortgage insurance and it is a one time PMI paid at closing. This one time PMI will cancel its self out in only 2 years well worth the extra cost. On my home it was only an additional 2500 if I remember correctly. My note with taxes and insc runs $1172, not bad at all. Biggest thing is trying to negotiate the most closing costs covered possible=more money in your pocket. Goodluck.