The first thing that you may ask yourself is, how long do you plan to stay in that location? For example if you have just moved to New York to fulfill a two year long working contract with a new company, and you are not particularly in favor of the hectic city life and have dreams of living the peaceful, carefree life of a small town, then investing a huge amount on an expensive condominium with all the paraphernalia may not be the right decision for you.
If you purchase a house and then decide to move after only a short period of time, you may actually end up paying money in order to sell it! This is because the value of your home may not have appreciated enough to cover for the costs that you paid to buy the home.
The next thing in buying a house is to determine what your needs are, now and in the future. Where do you see yourself five years into the future years? If you are currently single and plan to get married then do consider the need of your future spouse. Do you want to have kids? How many would you like to have? If you desire a large family, then get a house in a suitable location and one large enough for your future needs. It all depends on what your plans are and what your needs will be.
When buying a house obviously you need to ensure that you have a good credit history. It is easy to find a lender if you have good credit history. Solid lenders are especially, extra skeptical if your credit history doesn't look good. Sometimes just a couple of blemishes on your credit report can sabotage your attempt to get a home loan to buy the house of your dreams. If you are planning to buy a house in the near future do take steps to make your credit report look good in order to qualify for lower interest rates and secure the loan that you need.
Before you jump into that buying decision, take your time to evaluate what your needs are in the present and future. Make sure that the choice will be one that satisfies your needs and expectations that will bring you many, any years of happiness and fulfillment. Good Luck in your quest to find your dream home.