Home Buying For Dummies^®, 4th Edition

by Eric Tyson; Ray Brown

• ISBN13: 9780470500644
• ISBN10: 0470500646
• Format: eBook
• Copyright: 2009-04-01
• Publisher: For Dummies

Summary

Now updated - America's #1 bestselling home-buying book!Want to buy a house, but concerned about the market? Have no fear - this trusted guide arms you with Eric Tyson and Ray Brown's time-tested advice and updated strategies for buying a home in current market conditions. You'll discover how to find the right property, make smart financial decisions, and understand the latest lending requirements and tax implications.New to this edition - new and expanded coverage to help homebuyers take advantage of low home prices, understand the subprime mortgage crisis, obtain a mortgage, and improve credit scoresTo buy or not to buy? - weigh the advantages of owning versus renting, get your finances in order, and know how much house you can safely affordHandle financing - understand your credit rating, navigate the different types of mortgages, and complete all paperworkPlay the real estate game - find the right location and property, assemble an all-star real estate team, and make the most of the Internet's real estate resourcesLet's make a deal - negotiate with finesse, make successful offers, inspect and protect your new home, and cover all your bases in escrow"Invaluable information, especially for the first-time home buyer." - Fort Worth Star-Telegram"A reference you'll turn to time after time." - St. Petersburg TimesOpen the book and find:Reasons why home prices rise and fallHands-on instruction for buying a home in up or down marketsHow to pay the price you wantThe best mortgage optionsA sample home-buying contractPros and cons of comparable market analysisTips for overcoming mortgage and appraisal problemsHow to cope with buyer's remorseThe best real estate Web sites

Table of Contents

Introduction

Home Economics

Deciding Whether to Buy

Getting Your Financial House in Order

What Can You Afford to Buy?

Why Home Prices Rise and Fall

Financing 101

Understanding and Improving Your Credit Score

Selecting a Mortgage

Mortgage Quandaries, Conundrums, and Paperwork

Property, Players, and Prices

Where and What to Buy

Assembling an All-Star Real Estate Team

What's It Worth?

Tapping the Internet's Best Resources

Making the Deal

Negotiating Your Best Deal

Inspecting and Protecting Your Home

It Ain't Over till the Weight-Challenged Escrow Offi cer Sings

The Part of Tens

Ten Financial "To Do's" After You Buy

Ten Things to Know When Investing in Real Estate

Ten Things to Consider When Selling Your House

Appendixes

Sample Real Estate Purchase Contract

Example of a Good Inspection Report

Glossary

Index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.