My news finally has come to fruition! I bought my first house, and will be moving in at the end of the month. It's a nice 1 story house with enough bedrooms and bathrooms to meet my needs. Funny thing is that it will only be $50 more per month than my current rent. I know I'll have to start putting a bunch aside for repairs and maintenance, but overall it's a much better arrangement long term.
Photos of my game room awesomeness should be posted in early September. 