Home buying...

I'm sitting here looking at the finances this morning. I've stumbled onto something that I never really thought might be possible. I might actually be able to purchase a house this time when I move.

Now, the problem is, how in the heck do you buy a house? It sounds like such a simple thing: I'd like to buy a house. However, everyone I talk with (out in the REAL world, like brothers, sisters, parents, etc) treats it like some "OMG that is so hard" type of thing.

I've found a couple of spots that give simple step by step things that I'm starting to read. I honestly don't think it's going to be that difficult. It looks like the actual process is a fairly straight forward, "do this, then do this, then do this, then do this...done, here's the keys!". I think the biggest question mark for me is this - DO I REALLY WANT A HOUSE?

Pros of owning a house:

1. It's yours. No, REALLY, it's yours. Want a different color in the living room? Paint it. Want to remove that non load bearing wall? Here's a sledge hammer.
2. Equity, you are building equity for the long haul.
3. Your "rent" payments don't go up anymore (really, if you think about it, in the long run we are really all just "renting" space here). And at some point, the big part of the rent payment goes away (i.e. principal and interest payments will go away, taxes and maintenance never do). I personally think this one is the biggie for your's truly.
4. Not having to move once it's all paid off...priceless.

Cons of owning a house:

1. It's yours. NO, REALLY, IT'S YOURS. Lawn needs mowing, sidewalk and driveway need shoveling. Furnace went out? Buy a new one (they don't come cheap). What about the washer and dryer? Or the stove, or the fridge or the ... you get my point.
2. It really isn't that good an investment. Tax break my ass. Think about it, you will only get the tax break on the interest and property taxes that are above and beyond the standard deduction of $5000 this year (that is from memory, it might be off, and it's only for a single person like me). And, it's a whole $0.27 back for every dollar you ALREADY SPENT!!!! Listen, anytime you want to give me a dollar and I only have to give you $0.27 back, you let me know. I'll take that investment. And the equity? Well, at the typical 3-6% annual increase, at some point, it WILL be a good thing, but the stock market is closer to 8-10%...not sure owning a home is better...
3. Same old boring house to come home to each and everyday. 'nuff said.

I think the pros and cons basically balance themselves out, at least in my situation. So I think I'm going to go for it there too. Boy, does 2007 look kind of hairy for me.