I'm sure there are a few I'm leaving out, but getting good answers to these questions will very quickly narrow the possibilities for your land, and what you can expect of it.

When you do that it will narrow the kitchen opening which is why I say you'll want to at least shorten that wall so you don't get a closed in feel.

I'm not sure if that helps you narrow down what I'm actually asking about or not. 

One thing that I do when I am looking for a single family is narrow my search down to 3-4 properties that all look equally good on paper then have my wife take a look at them and have her rank them.  

I'm still trying to narrow my focus a bit but and all the information on the site is great albeit a bit overwhelming as a newbie. 

They're out in the market talking with clients and the public, and can give you the word on the street about the various neighborhoods, developments, local news, etc.Visit the Market: Step 1 and 2 should help you narrow the selection down to 1-2 markets, and now it's time to take the final step and visit the market in-person.

I have been doing serious research on the market (looking at homes and schools) and have narrowed it down a bit.

The 1% and 2% rules are simply filters used to narrow your focus on properties more likely to become purchases.  

In all honesty, I am beginning the process of narrowing that down now.

If you had lived in it for 2 and then rented it for less than 3 you would qualify.There are only two narrow pro-rated exceptions if a job related transfer or a health reason caused the move.