Looking for some general advice about buying my first house.

[IWEARGOGGLES]

Thanks for responding mmctrab.

Yeah last year I went looking a lot and I didn't buy simply because I didn't find anything that I felt was perfect for me. I mean I guess I have a laundry list of things that I'm looking for but I'll be more lenient once I'm back from Aussie. I really, really need to live by myself.

Anyways, my realtor is actually a close friend of the family so I think she'll be able to do well with the negotiating aspect. She is pretty intent on making sure I get a good deal for whatever I buy. She has definitely told me prices have dropped (it seems that way to me as well because I think prices are different from last year when I looked) and that it is a good market to negotiate in.