What I've learned about myself through looking for a house

I've lived relatively happily in a wonderful Dormont apartment for five years. As I approach three decades on planet earth I find myself in a retrospective place. More than that, I find myself looking for more security and rootedness in my community.

As my friends will gladly point out, I've been flirting with the idea of purchasing a home fairly steadily for the past three or four years. After a year my romance with my apartment dwindled (through no fault of my landlord or fellow tennants, I assure you!) and I found myself yearning for things such as a yard, the ability to paint, and more closet space. Really, those sound like practical reasons for most; but, looking at them now, they feel more like cursory, romantic notions of what  a house should have, rather than what a home is.

So, I started looking a homes. I told my realtor that I could care less about kitchens and really only demand that my home have character, a fenced in yard (or a yard that is suitable for a fence), and convenient access to public transit. These demands have been met by several homes (and surpassed as I find I have a love of fireplaces and pocket doors); but here I am, still in my apartment and still looking for my very first home to call my own.

If I may be so bold, I'll argue that my forray into home-buying feels a lot like my dating life - as time goes on my attitude has gone from romantic, to practical, to an odd combination of both. Really, it's scary, I think I may be turning into a real-deal adult.

Of course, the other problem I find is that the area I love (Dormont) is full of homes that a single, young professional can't really afford easily. ($175K dream home, I'm looking right at you.) Or, that the homes I can afford lack one or more of my top three features (Yard, transit, charming details.)

The question is, of course, should I give up on Dormont? Should I 'settle' for Beechview? Should I expand my horizons into Brookline, Castle Shannon or even Overbrook?

I throw this to you, Patch Readers - If you've bought a home, how did you find it? If you haven't bought a home, do you ever flirt with the desire to do so? And for those home-seeking sojourners such as myself, at what point do priorities, wants, and needs shift for you?