Geoff, the choice is really quite simple. A condo has extra monthly maintenance fees that are not tax-deductible. The benefit is that you don't have to deal with the work. No lawn to mow, no snow to shovel, no leaky roof to fix. A house doesn't have those extra fees, but there is always work that needs to be done. If it's not a leaky roof, then it's a leaky faucet.

If one of the only reasons you want a house is for a basement (I'm a little scared to think about what you'd be doing down there ), then look into a townhouse that has a garage. They usually have a family room off the garage.