Firstly, I'll be paying the mortgage which is to be no more than I currently pay for rent or no more than $600 @ the most. She knows I am in debt paydown mode and this move still has to make financial sense. She'll take care of some utilities and other house related expenses.

It HAS to be w/in a 30 min commute of my job. Last summer, I shacked up w/my aunt in order to save money, rent went dropped about $400 and the room was pretty big, nice neighborhood etc. Seemed worth it right? WRONG!! Some mornings my commute took upwards of an hour. One morning it was almost an hour and a 1/2 and I had TOO many mornings of sitting in the car wanting to cry. Plus I was gassing up every 3 days, and last summer gas was near $3. Basically I doubled my commute time and miles and while I was saving rent & utility money, it was still killing me to kick out almost $40/week in gas + wear and tear on my car. W/in 2 months I was back intown. Now my commute is 30-35 mins, it's 10-12 miles one way vs. 25 miles one way, I fill up every 10 days and don't have to get on the expressway to come home w/many alternate routes in case local traffic acts up or I just want a change of pace.

It HAS to have 2, prefereable 2.5 or 3, bathrooms. Not sharing a bathroom w/my mom. Wouldn't be prudent.

She thinks it HAS to have 4 bedrooms, I'd be content w/3.

I think it HAS to be a duplex, so I can still have my own apartment and later when my bills are paid off and I start travelling the world :D, she can get a renter.

Then there are a few other wants that seem to be taking over the needs, such as what the house should look like and how far back from the sidewalk it should be, but for the most part we have the same idea as far as location and overall style. Even the extra .5 to full bath was my idea cuz I'd likely have the bathroom that guests used...I was getting carried away.

So that's my new house. After my debts are paid off and I of couse travel the world for a bit, then I'll think about settling down for good. Plus I'd like to save at least a 20% downpayment. Though knowing how housing prices jump, I can @ least put aside my old rent + utility money for 2 years (aprox 1000) and let that be my downpayment when I'm ready.

So that's my new move and as much as I dig my current commute, location of town, being back on my own....I'm really really really ready to go ;)

I forgot to add the biggest wants, NO CURFEW and NO NAGGING! I'm an adult dammit.