IMO, a condo is like leasing a car. It gets you into a neighborhood you couldn't have afforded to get into otherwise, just like leasing a car gets you into a nicer car than you could have bought for the same money.
At the end of the day, condos are a hard sale. We sold my wife's condo in about a months time (closed earlier this month). But it was in a desireable area where no new condos can be built, was a unique setup, and had some features most condos don't have. It is hard going out there with condos.
Also, if you are bringing you two down in terms of getting a loan, then why are you applying or putting your name on it at all? If your debt/income ratio and credit work out better with just your wife, do it that way. Due to my rental property, that's what my wife and I did.
Honestly, a house is really the way to go. What newbie condo owners don't understand is condo fee's aren't the only cash the association will get from you. They want to do something and don't have the funds...they will charge an assesment to everyone. My wife was averaging a $500 assesment every year on top of the already sky-high condo fees. Parking lot need re-paved...ASSESMENT. Condos need a new roof? Assesment. Units need painted...well, you get the picture.
For many condo's, the cost of fee's alone could pay to have someone mow your yard on a single family home (or snow removal in the winter) + saving the remainder each month would cover any outside repairs down the road. For most people, condos are not a good purchase. My wife bought hers because at the time she traveled for a living and wasn't home enough to feel right with a house.