It should depend on your $$$. If you have stable job like goverment, you could carry mortage payment at about 40 to 50 % of you income. If you job is not stable. then should be at 30% to 40%.
If the money is not the issue. An ideal starting home should be 4 bedroom and 2 full bath room and 1 half bathroom( toilet only) 2 Car garage around 2200. It is big enough to be comfortable for house of 4 and some visitors, you could live in it for 20 year till your kids grow up. It is smallest and cheapest to meet that requirment, so it is very easy to sell in the market and not too much aviable since people tend to live in it for long time. Over that size, the house may look more grand, but most added space is wasted just to make it looks nice.