nsman2: Condo living only sucks if you don't go into it with your eyes open. I've done both and agree with CoryAlbrecht. We cut the mileage of our commute for work in half. More importantly we gained an hour and a bit every day in free time. Our walkable neighborhood feels like a small town. You get to know clerks and restaurant staff on a first-name basis.

Your advice to rent for a year is bang on. You'll find out quickly whether you're suited for condo/apt life. Four years into condo living, we wouldn't go back to a detached house for anything.