The 3 rules of real estate are: Location, Location, Location. Get the best location you can afford be it condo, TH or SF.

Also think life style. When your young you may not want to spend all day saturday doing yard work in a SF. Heck you may not want to do any yard work, then you want a condo. But if you like to have loud all night parties Condos and THs aren't for you and the HOA will be slapping you with big fines.

Any developement with a HOA (Home Owners Association) can be a real PITA. They tend to be highly political and petty (you don't have the correct shade of beige for your curtains. you have to change them.) .

I would establish a relationship (business) with a real estate agent who acts as a BUYERS BROKER and start looking around. A regular real estate agent is only legally bound to look out for the sellers interests (many do look out for the buyer but aren't bound to). BBs are legally bound to look out for the buyers interests. This may vary by locallity.

Start working with a bank or credit union NOW on financing. If you can get preapproved to $XXX,XXX it will certainly help negotiations. Don't forget closing costs. These can be significant (8% in our case for taxes and recordation fees).