The Unofficial Guide^TM to Buying a Home

by Alan Perlis; Beth Bradley

• ISBN13: 9780028624617
• ISBN10: 0028624610
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-01-01
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

It2s typically the biggest expense you will encounter in a lifetime. The right choice can make you ecstatic, and the wrong one can leave you burdened beyond belief. Buying a home requires extensive information; the more you know increases the chances that you2ll live there happily ever after. The Unofficial Guide to Buying a Home presents readers with unbiased, street-smart advice that helps them assess their options. How much home can you afford? How do you find a realtor? Where should you buy? What type of mortgage should you apply for? How do you make sense of all those fees? And how do you make certain that you2re really purchasing your home sweet home? This is the first guide to truly address the anxiety that goes along with the purchase of a lifetime.

Table of Contents

The Unofficial Guide Reader's Bill of Rights.

The Unofficial Guide Panel of Experts.

Introduction.

I. Doing Your Homework, Getting Prepared.

1. Getting Your Act Together.

2. Getting a Grip on the Market.

II. Preliminary Choices.

3. Homebuying as an Investment.

4. The Truth About New Construction.

5. The Lowdown on Real Estate Agents.

III. The Process Begins: Looking For and Getting the Home You Want.

6. The Search Is On: Looking at Houses with Your Agent.

7. Home Shopping on the Internet.

8. Removing the Barriers: The Art of Negotiating.

IV. Money Issues.

9. Cleaning Up Your Credit.

10. Ready…Set…Finance!

V. Wrapping Up.

11. The Inspection.

12. Before Coming to the Closing Table.

13. The Closing.

VI. Taking It a Step Further.

14. Moving Into and Living in Your New Home.

15. Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen--A Real Estate Law Primer.

A. The Nine Most Popular Home Styles.

B. Important Statistics.

C. Important Documents.

D. Glossary of Terms.

E. A Relocation Guide.

F. Bibliography.

G. Resource Guide.