House Hunting

Nate and I have begun the wonderful journey called "The House Hunt"
This is exciting and frustrating all at the same time. As we have been living with Nate's parents and realized how long we have been partaking of their kindness, our goals for what that house will be have changed. I think we've become more realistic. Houses are way more expensive here than in Kentucky. We can't get as much house for our money unless we go way out in the boonies...
We went last weekend and checked 3 in Renton, we only went into 2. What an experience. We are looking at lower end of the price range and so see many foreclosures, bank owned, etc...
1st house-pictures were beautiful, very hopeful that it would be cute. Knew there was writing on the walls from previous owners, but all that takes is paint. Well, this house had settling problems and has a brick front, so difficult to hoist up to redo the footings, 2nd had roof problems and possible water intrusion, 3rd problem, no garage for Nate's toys. :) Yes, we need a garage.
2nd house- we don't even go into. Walk up to the front, hear gushing water, look below the house where there was a hole and a pipe had a hole in it and water was happily coming out of it. Don't need to deal with bad plumbing...plus the porch looked half rotted and other weird looks to the way they added onto the house.
3rd house, little more hopeful, but no dice. No garage, better layout, but water intrusion and MOLD! GROSS!!!
We have picked out 9 more properties in Renton, Issaquah, and the Kirkland/Bothell areas. We go to see those this weekend. Wish us luck...