I'm no expert and you'll hear better ideas from others, but as I'm just a little further in the same process as you: First, figure out what you can comfortably AFFORD, rather than qualify for. The two may coincide, but as recent lessons have taught us, some lenders are willing to give considerably greater loans than we can afford, particularly with co-signers. Around here, and in my mind, a good rule of thumb for being affordable and qualifying for a mortgage is the 28-36 mortgage rule, meaning no more than 28% of a household's gross income can be used on housing costs (including mortgage payments, property taxes and insurances), and total the debt payments cannot exceed 36%. Once you have an idea on what you can afford, I would contact local contractors who build spec houses and see what they build certain size houses for. Here, for example, I can get a 2,200 sq ft 2 story spec house from a dozen different contractors for $175k--while a custom plan could certainly cost more for the same size, at least this can give you a ballpark of what materials and labor would run in your area. That way you don't set your heart on a house that is twice what you can afford because you use online estimate calculators or the like which cannot be trusted. Just my thoughts.

Here's my experience with Buderus Nov 2009 $9650 for the burner and Super Store Stainless water tank installed. Feb 2013 $809 for new return connection pipe and lower locking nut and gaskets replacement due to leaks. May 2013 $2086 (that's two THOUSAND eighty six dollars) for faulty Buderus header manifold that leaked. Aug 2014 Catastrophic heat exchange failure resulting in required replacement of entire unit as well as electrical components that got ruined due to leaking water and corrosion. I've asked my contractor for a price to put a new heating system that is NOT Buderus. DO NOT BUY THESE MACHINES!! THEY ARE OVER PRICED, UNRELIABLE CRAP!!!!

Deb, I'm not exactly sure of all your circumstances, but I'll try to offer some Land Surveyor advice as it applies here in Illinois. How long has your neighbor lived in the house? In Illinois, adverse possession can be an issue after 20 years. If she has openly and notoriously maintained and believed that part of the yard in question is hers, she may have an basis for an argument. This is something a Land Surveyor really can't determine - only a lawyer. As far as granting access to her parcel from yours, you really don't have to do this unless her parcel was landlocked and your parcel had senior rights over her parcel. In other words, her parcel was split off from yours and was completely surrounded by other parcels, where access to and from couldn't be accomplished unless crossing someone else's land. Usually an ingress/egress easement is written for access. Property issues are never easy. You can usually get 10 different surveyors to generally agree, but then get 10 lawyers to thoroughly confuse the courts to a point where they believe white is black and the sun rises in the west. Make sure you have a valid, signed and sealed (in the state which you live in) survey from a reputable surveyor who is familiar with the area. You could offer her to hire an independent survey done, but it sounds like she isn't too open to communication. Be sure to save all of your emails with the neighbor. It sounds like you will probably need them later on.

I'm not sure where you are, but in CT you can get a single lot line surveyed, but you might need all your other bounds are marked. Call around and ask a couple of reputable surveyors. You can usually go to the municipal offices for your town and get a copy of the deed for your property as well as the problem neighbor's and a map of each. (Ask the surveyor if you get all the deeds and maps they need if they will lower what they charge you because you've done some of the leg work they charge by the hour for sometimes. Some might be willing some not. Worth a shot anyway, right?) Then you can see for yourself where the pins are, if they are still in place. I think if the surveyor has some of the pins in place he won't have to do as much work. Anyway, good luck with it.