Snapping problem

I am a new user and I am having troubles with the snapping system. I have no problem selecting a single point, face or edge and snapping it to a point. The trouble comes when i select several points and I want to snap them to an edge or grid point keeping their current offset from each other.

In other similar software you would set your point or grid snap and grab the transform gizmo direction you want and then drag the points / face / edge to snap with whatever you wanted it snapped to. In Houdini when I try to do this it offsets the snap by wherever I happen to grab the transform. Any way around this?

For example I am making game environment geo that must be manifold so snapping and welding is very important. Can't just fudge it.

You have to grab the centre cube to snap the center of the handle to other points, edges, prims, etc.
To constrain the handle to the axes, just hold down the Ctrl key while dragging the centre cube instead of dragging the axis handles.

In Geometry SOP mode.
Method 1 with Handle control (very precise)

• Select some points.
  Hit the ‘t’ key to get the transform handle.
  Hit the ‘ single quote key. The handle should now have a hollow cube in the centre.
  Hit the ’v' key to turn on point snapping.
  Drag the centre of the handle to your point of interest.
  Hit the ' single quote key again. Solid centre.
  Move the points snapping to other points to suit.
  
  
  Method 2 dragging points directly
  Select some points.
  Hit the ‘t’ key to get the transform handle.
  Hit the ‘v’ key to turn on point snapping.
  Move the points snapping to other points to suit. (Ignore the handle)
  
  
  The first method with handle allows you to place the handle centre wherever you want.

Thanks, that does the trick! It would have taken em a while to figure that out on my own.