I recommend Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey and consider taking his class Financial Peace University. 

This dampens your appreciation considerably because people consider apples to apples in terms of total mortgage payments.

Find the property that makes you the most money in either location.

I've found there are cheap all-wood flat pack cabs that are much better for similar money.

Lessons learned: 1) Do a more thorough tour of house before purchasing 2) Have more money saved Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

That should smell like money. 

When they don't take advice and call it criticism or call us mean, what they are really doing is putting a light up into the sky for all of the gurus to come collect them and their money.

I discovered that strength is within me, I learned to love others and my family more, and I created my financial freedom.Now I am happy and constantly create, not for money but for the joy of creating, and the money always comes in abundance.Let us hear your story :)

I don’t want to have to wait a long time to save more money to buy my second one.

I haven't done my due diligence yet but I wonder why the national builder are not going to make money in Columbus if it is such a growing market. they do make money.