I'm wondering how far you guys drive to your job. I'm looking to buy a house that about 55 minutes away from my wifes work. I'm a rep on the road so it really doesn't matter that much. It's farther away from my territory though, but I like the house. I know the gas is gonna suck.
Really no blanket answer to that one, Lots of factors come in.
Some of the things you need to look at are:
Can you afford the equivalent house closer?
To some the size of house and neighborhood are worth the Commute. I Currently live in the DC area with a 35 min drive to work, I'm Lucky I work at a base South of the Beltway and it is a nice drive on country roads. Some of my neighbors work in the Beltway and it is worth it to them to deal with the traffic when a similar house would run $2mil+ in a safe neighborhood, and for the same Money instead of 3k sq foot 4 bedroom on a big lot in a small suburb, they would be getting a 1 bedroom condo, or living in an area where it isn't safe to walk the streets day or night.
What Kind of drive? Is it 55 min on crowded highways or country roads?
Why are you looking in that area? neighborhood? Schools? Price?
You have to decide which is more important, the area/house or the drive
Is there public transportation? If I took a job up in the Beltway, I'd most likely use the Park and ride lot a mile from home and look at the bus/train as time to catch up on reading/studying
You mentioned you are looking at it and like it, what does your wife think of the drive? Sounds like she is the one that will have to live with it, is the house worth it to her? If she is stuck with a miserable drive in a house she is not in love with, it's going to suck for both of you. If she too loves the house you are probably fine.
Don't know how much you do around the house, but I can garuntee you if she is spending 2 hours on the road every day you are going to be doing more housework than you do now