Commuting is probably the most important factor in location. How long are you willing to spend traveling to and from work? Consider your quality of life. If you can save thousands of dollars by moving to the suburbs but have to spend three hours commuting each day, is it worth it? On the other hand, if you can get to work in less than fifteen minutes but struggle to make your mortgage payment, do you want to take the risk? Only you know what you can tolerate, so give these questions some serious thoughts.

Safety is a concern for everyone, especially if you have small children. Most states and local jurisdictions have information on crime statistics. A safe environment in your immediate neighborhood may not be good enough. Driving through an area plagued with drugs, gangs, and prostitution to get to your house may pose some concerns. Don't just consider the immediate neighborhood where your future house is located.  Also assess the safety of neighborhoods of a few miles radius around the house. If possible, drive around the neighborhood during the day time and night time to see what kind of activities take place and whether you have any concerns.

The Department of Justice keeps a national registry of sex offenders.  You may want to check out the list.  If you live in Virginia, the state provides a list of Sex Offenders and Crimes Against Minors.

After you know where you want or afford to live, you will want to ask yourself whether you want a condo, a townhouse, or a single-family house. Price goes proportionally with the space of the house in most cases in comparable neighborhoods. Single-family houses in the same neighborhood usually cost more than condos or townhouses. Style of house is more than just space.  Young people may find condominiums more attractive as they require less up-keep and provide more opportunities to meet people. People may also find that living in a large complex is safer than living in a single family house. Others may find condos crowded and confining. Families with children often prefer single-family homes where they have their own space and privacy. Only you know best what will suit your level of comfort and safety.

Depending on where you want to live, some areas have old houses while others have relatively new ones. Some find older houses more sturdy and charming while others find them unbearable with smaller rooms and fewer bathrooms. It is a personal matter, but give it some serious thoughts. Would you want to live in a three-bedroom, one-bath, single-family house or a two-master-bedroom townhouse in the same neighborhood for the same price? This is the kind of question you will face.

For both the location and style of house, make a list of what you cannot live without (must-haves) and what you want to have but can live without (nice-to-haves). Revisit the lists as you go through the process. As you learn more, you may change your mind about certain features of the location or the house. Be careful though. If you change your mind too often, you may end up buying something that you are not sure of. (Yes, tomorrow you will change your mind again but it is too late then.) Buying a house is one of the experiences where, although you have the receipt, you don't have an option to return the good once you buy it and take ownership of it. So, take the time to go through what you love and what you hate, and stick to a few fundamental priorities.

A note for the singles--Since you are the only one who will make payments on the house, it is wise to have a contingency plan. Unlike dual income families, you are the sole source of the monthly payments. If you get sick or laid off and are not able to work, you will not have another person to pick up the tab for you. If you can afford it, buy a property with more than one bedroom so that you can rent out the other room if you need to. If you do not want to share the space with a stranger, a finished walkout basement room or an in-law suite with a private bath is ideal. (In this case, townhouses and single-family houses have a competitive edge compared to condominiums.) Beware that if the room does not have a window or exit door, it is not considered a living space. Most juristdictions have laws against this.  Even if no one knows but you and your tenant, you should not put your tenant at risk. If a fire breaks out, your tenant might be trapped down in the basement with no way out.