Home Buying For Dummies

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