The Unofficial GuideTM to Buying a Home by Perlis, Alan; Bradley, Beth;

Short description:

It's 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 you'll live there happily ever after.

Long description:

It's 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 you'll 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 you're 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.

The inside scoop?for when you want more than the official line! No matter what your dream home looks like?from a quaint bungalow to a sprawling mansion?turning your dream into a reality is a daunting task. You have to figure out what you want and know what you can afford?and that's before you even start looking for a home to buy! How do you find a home that will make your whole family happy? You need to be informed every step of the way?from calculating your budget to negotiating the deal and handling the closing. You want the inside scoop. The Unofficial Guide^? to Buying a Home gives savvy consumers like you a foolproof appraisal of which homebuying techniques work and which don't?with unbiased recommendations that are not influenced by any company, product, or organization. This book, like every Unofficial Guide^?, is intensively inspected by the Unofficial Panel of Experts, a team of highly respected realestate experts. They ensure that you are armed with the most up-to-date insider information on buying a home and are told exactly what the Official establishment doesn't want you to know. Vital Information that other sources can't or won't reveal?from what really motivates sellers, brokers, loan officers, and other key players in the homebuying game, to how to work most effectively with your agent. Insider Secrets on how to make real estate law work in your favor. Money-Saving Techniques that show you how to take advantage of tax deductions, and how to time your search to exploit seasonal variations in the market. Time-Saving Tips on streamlining the homebuying process so you get the most done in the least amount of time. The Latest Trends in homebuying, including how to use the Internet for your home search. Handy Checklists and Charts to help you determine and stick to your budget.

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.