The good news: It's a buyer's market and interest rates are down. The bad news: It's tougher to get credit and qualify for an affordable mortgage. In this volatile market, you need to arm yourself with as much information as you can get. This book takes you through each step of buying a home and will show you how to: Choose the right house, condo, co-op, or vacation home. Analyze mortgage rates, property values, and market trends. Work with agents, brokers, lawyers, and lenders. And more! Whether you're purchasing your first home or your fourth, this updated guide walks you through your biggest purchase with expert advice you can trust. This edition also includes completely new material on loans to avoid, how to determine if a house is overpriced, and avoiding foreclosure.

"Buying a first home can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. Will you qualify for a mortgage? Is your dream home achievable? How do you make sure your offer will beat others? Don't worry-now you can arm yourself with the information you need to know before you begin the hunt! In Home Buying 101, you will learn all the skills you need to find the right house at the right price, with financing that fits your budget. Full of nuts-and-bolts advice and organized in an easy-to-read format, this book will teach you all the basics of: deciding the right time to buy; getting your finances in order; deciphering the MLS/reading the listings for clues; types of mortgage loans; and much more! With the help of this guide, you'll learn how to find the house of your dreams at a price you can afford!"--

100 Questions Every First-Time Home Buyer Should, Ask is a wealth of information for first-timers, including: -- How do I know if my broker is doing a good job?* (See question #15.)-- How do I decide what to offer for the home? (See question #26.)-- How does the negotiation process work? (See question #34.)-- How do I choose the right lender for me? (See question #54.)-- How much down payment will I need to buy my home? (See question #59.)-- What are the different types of mortgages available? (See question #73.)-- What if I'm rejected for my loan? (See question #84.)-- What exactly is the closing? (See question #87.)-- Will I need homeowner's insurance? What should it cover? (See question #91.)

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 scores To 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 afford Handle financing — understand your credit rating, navigate the different types of mortgages, and complete all paperwork Play 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 resources Let'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 Times Open the book and find: Reasons why home prices rise and fall Hands-on instruction for buying a home in up or down markets How to pay the price you want The best mortgage options A sample home-buying contract Pros and cons of comparable market analysis Tips for overcoming mortgage and appraisal problems How to cope with buyer's remorse The best real estate Web sites

Home ownership is a cornerstone of the American dream, but it's a complex process that, without the right guidance, can seem like a nightmare. This Missing Manual takes you through the process of buying a home, from start to finish. Along the way, you'll use the book's expert advice and fill-in forms to identify the house you want, figure out what kind of neighborhood you want to live in, determine what a target home is really worth, make an offer, and close the deal. Throughout the process, this book helps you: Realistically determine how much house you can afford Assemble a real estate team that's looking after your interests and not the seller's Understand the different ways to finance your house, and which is best for you Create an attractive offer with the best chance of acceptance Learn what lenders look for so you can get your mortgage approved Inspect your new home to uncover potential problems Prepare all the right paperwork for a smooth closing

From using a real estate agent to choosing a great location, Suzanne Whang is the author you need to help you navigate home buying easily. She brings you handy hints on how to: Find your credit rating--and improve it! Prequalify for a loan (why it's so important). Avoid costly mistakes and use a positive attitude to find your perfect home.

Negotiate a great price Find your best mortgage Discover applications and checklists online Get the Best Deal on Your New Home! When it comes to buying a home, it's hard to know where to begin. You want to buy at a fair price at the right time—not always easy in a fast-changing market. The updated Home Buying Kit has all you need: strategies to secure the optimal deal, the ins and outs of home financing, how to evaluate rent vs. buy, and the latest on regulations around mortgage interest and property tax. Whether a first-time buyer or veteran homeowner, this book will help you make the smart decisions that move you into your dream home in no time! Inside... Get your finances in order Improve your credit score Choose the right mortgage Build your real estate team Maximize your financial health Inspect and protect your home Understand and minimize closing costs

In real estate, it's a buyer's market—and here is the buyer's bible . . . Buying a home is the single most important financial move in most people's lives. This book covers a variety of topics including inspecting, evaluating, negotiating, financing, contracts, and legal issues. It also breaks down the roles of the key players and what these professionals, agents, brokers, and inspectors are responsible for—and when to go it alone. The thorough advice, covering everything from buying houses at auctions to what neighborhood to live in, will provide reassurance for every soon–to–be homeowner. • A necessary tool for those who plan to buy homes and even current homeowners in order to keep up with an ever changing market • Will be published in time for spring, when most people start looking into buying new homes • Covers a broad range of buying options and homeowner's needs

THE FIRST TIME HOMEBUYER BOOK will help make the largest purchase of your life as simple as possible. Buying a home today can be like break-dancing in a minefield - one wrong move, and the whole thing can blow up in your face! After reading this book, you will be able to grace your way into your first home without the risk of everything going to pieces. Coming from the standpoint of a Professional Realtor that works everyday with first time homebuyers, this book provides an accurate and realistic account to give you the best perspective as you embark down the path of homeownership. This is not a dummy-book! This book is filled with real world accounts of great examples of what to do and what not to do. This book will guide you through each and every step of the homebuying process, from the minute you decide on buying a home all the way to the close of escrow. The process is part of the adventure! This is the largest purchase of your life, and a good education will reduce stress and make the process fun, exciting and successful! MICHAEL WOLF is a Realtor, GRI and author and currently practices real estate in the San Diego area. His background is in Architecture and Economics. He studied for his Masters in Architecture at the New School of Architecture and Design in Downtown San Diego, and received his Bachelors in economics at the University of California at Santa Cruz. He has been practicing real estate as his professional career since 2005 and has been recognized with several production and sales distinctions. He is part of Ascent Real Estate, a widely respected and highly successful brokerage that specializes in the metro area of San Diego.