I think I might apply for an Affordable Housing Opportunity. They're selling a one-bedroom condo in the North End for $155,200 if you meet their (lack of) income requirements (which I do) and if you win out in their lottery of other people who want to buy the condo. I could just about afford it. It's worth a try, right? There may be a lot of other requirements that I won't meet, like they might want you to have taken a first-time homeowners' course and lord knows I'm not prequalified for a mortgage, but hey, I'll get the application. That way, the next time something like this comes up, I'll have a better idea of what I need to do.

(Of course, if I were by some freak long shot to get this condo, that would mean breaking two leases in six months, and leaving a roommate in the lurch. But given the extreme remoteness of that eventuality, I think I'll just tell myself that I'll cross that bridge when I come to it, and after all you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs. See also: chickens, counting and hatching thereof.)