i've done the house-hunting thing twice in the past five years, and will likely do it again in the next 3-4 years.

Each time, it was / will be for different needs.
1st time: someplace fiance and I could settle into for a reasonable sum
2nd time: someplace closer to support network for wife while baby coming
3rd time: will be to a much nicer school district for the kid

Make a list of what you Need. Then make a list of what you Want. Then double-check the lists to make sure everything is in the right column.

Then make a list of what you Don't Want, and what you Cannot Have. Then double-check those lists, too.

Then go hunting.

Stick to a price range that results in a mortgage that leaves you with plenty of cash to work with at the end of the month. Never be "house poor" (that is, pay so much in mortgage that you can't afford anything else.) I've been there ... I'm on the edge of it now ... hoping to be completely out of it in a year.

Don't worry about wall colors, or carpet colors. Those things can be re-painted, replaced, whatever (but do take into account the cost of doing so). Look for space, quality of construction, neighborhood, electrical, network (lots of modern houses have CAT-5 run through them), roofing, and of course termites / infestations.

Take a look a the cars in the neighborhood. That's a great representation of the demographic in the area.

Don't get sold on the idea of a "fixer upper" if you have neither the time nor the skill to perform that fixing. My wife was sold on the idea of a cute little house we saw the first time around, but needed a lot of work. She loved the price. She said, "there's all these projects you can do, honey!" I said, "I don't have the time to do projects; I've got grad school and you're pregnant." We passed on that house.

That's about all the advice I can offer, at the mo. If I think of more, I'll let you know.

-godling