A good deal on a house is considered having purchased it below market value. And, if a good deal is your prime objective, it can be achieved. But, other objectives like location, condition, and floorplan, will need to be sacrificed. If price is the major focus, these other preferences may not be a feature of the Good Deal home. 

On the other hand, if buying a “great house” is most important, it means the home you’re looking for is the one that will most closely meet all of your needs and preferences. A Great House, and a Good Deal aren’t mutually exclusive, just rare. 

Before you start looking for a house, list your desires in order of preference. Keep them general, like price range, location, floorplan, etc. (price range should be first, because it’s absolute). As you look at homes, let additional preferable features you may find in each surprise you. Homes you find that score well, preference-wise, are worth more to you than those that don’t, irrespective of their asking price. That’s simply because you’ve found what you’re looking for. At that point, offer, negotiate, and buy.