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As I didn't have 20% to put down, I went the 80/10/10 route and saved on paying the PMI. You should definitely ask your mortgage broker about it. (I've even heard of 80/15/5 loans, it all depends on your credit score.)
I'd recommend stopping by the houses you have great interest in at different times of the day and week. Noise issues can be minimal during the middle of the day but you discover a major traffic issue in the mornings, whatever. Night air also allows more noise from further away and the distant road may become an issue. (Or the neighbors throw weekend parties?)
Be wary of those incurable defects (like being backed up to a freeway or shopping center).
Talk to neighbors about the likes/dislikes of the area, too.
If it's not attached to the house, then you should assume it doesn't stay with the house unless you and your agent put it in the offer contract.
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~micah
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