Play it to your advantage. Then buy your money commitment based on that estimate. Then buy five or seven year money. Buy an ARM, and save thousands. Before the end of 1998, the lenders will make a 30 year fixed rate mortgage so expensive, relative to shorter risk vehicles, that it will fade from popularity.
Taxes are a way of life.
Property taxes are very high in Texas, since we do not have a personal or corporate income tax, and since Texas has committed to being a first class public education system. At least the taxes are fully deductible from gross income on your Federal tax return. As MUDs build out, their tax base goes up and the tax rate normally comes down to a rate comparable with the adjacent city. Probably not, since the outlying areas with a lower tax rates often have lower quality schools, fewer services, and limited demand for resale when you want to sell. Incidentally, there is much confusion about deferring your capital gain on the sale of your previous home.