Emily

Thanks, Gina - you make a good point. I should've been clearer in my original post. What we "can afford" based on salary (and based on what the banks tell us) is significantly higher than what our budget and personal comfort can withstand. We know how much we can comfortably spare for a mortgage payment, property taxes, insurance, etc.; our credit is excellent, and we will have a substantial down payment. Thanks again for your concern, because that kind of advice benefits all of us potential buyers (and sellers).

I posted this question because we're going to be relocating from the West Coast (CA) to the East Coast (NJ). So, I can spend the brief amount of time I have on the East Coast before we move interviewing buyers' agents, or I can spend it actually looking at houses. I guess I should stick to open houses and interviewing agents now. There's no reason for us to rush anyway. Thanks again! - Tue May 13 2008, 16:55