what am i looking for?

what i want and what i'm looking for are two very different things. due to what i am able to afford, i have to be realistic as to what i expect to buy at this point in my life. what do i want? i want a 3-bedroom end unit townhouse with a garage in a community that is less than 10 years old that's updated up the wazoo. can i have that? HA! not right now. that's what i want in many, many years from now. right now, i'm looking for a 1- to 2-bedroom condo, with the 2-bedroom condo being a luxury. the catalyst to that being the annual taxes. i've budgeted plenty for the association fees (a monthly fee that covers snow removal, grounds maintanence, pool fee, etc.), but the taxes are sometimes the deal breaker (especially around here, where i live).

my must-haves
-- top floor of a building (whether it be the second floor of a 2-story or the third of a 3-story, etc.)
-- laundry room (or closet) in the unit
-- vaulted ceilings

so the first two have always been die-hard requirements with no room for compromise. the third must-have, however, was born as i got deeper into my search. many of the condos around here are not exactly big on square footage, but those with the vaulted ceilings make the place look so expansive and roomy, and it look g-r-e-a-t.

another feature i seem to surprisingly encounter in most places is a fireplace. i'm not exactly dying for a fireplace, but it's "nice" to have, and with a high probability of having one, i'll certainly enjoy it.

i should also address a big reason why i've been searching for so long. i'm picky! this is SO, so, so much money -- how can i possibly settle?!

wish me luck... (i need it!)