Another question (which you don’t have to answer to me because it’s really non of my business ) …but still a question to consider: Whose name & credit is the house going under? Just yours? Both you and your brother? The only reason I bring that up is because the ultimate responsibility for the house will rest on the person whose name is on the deed. If it’s just yours, then I’d say your brother will have to buck up, accept whatever house you pick and follow your rules. If the house will be in both your names (& credit), … um - that’s a really tough one, but would really come down to a 50/50, and so I smell a compromise Also, have you ever lived with your brother in your adult years? Again, you don’t have to answer that to me, but it may be worthwhile to consider your current relationship and how living together may (or may not) effect it.

On the subject of a roommate, you could simply consider your brother the roommate and approach the situation the same as you would with a traditional roommate: collect a security deposit and/or first & last months’ rent etc (whatever terms you decide). (But I think this would only apply if your brother’s name is not on the deed.) I totally do this if it were *my* brother, because (unfortunately) he’s really not a very dependable person. I hope your brother is different though.

If you choose a traditional roommate - ie. a stranger - do your research! Require a credit check, references (personal & professional), demonstrated employment history w/ paystubs/vouchers to prove it, an interview - all that good stuff!

Oh - and don’t worry about your realtor’s “having enough” of your indecisiveness. After all, s/he is going to get a good chunk of change in the end … so it’s ok if s/he actually has to have some patience and do some work! Hehehe…