Buying A 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

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

The Holmes Inspection will be the definitive guide to smart home-buying and home-selling for Canadians. It’s often said that a home is the biggest investment most people will ever make, yet many buyers, when considering a house, spend less time on examining its pros and cons than they might on a head of lettuce at the supermarket. Why? A big part of the problem is knowledge: without an understanding of house construction, materials and finishing, many people are overwhelmed and decide to forego the inspection process altogether, or leave it entirely in the hands of a home inspector—who might not be much of an expert either. The Holmes Inspection gives readers the tools they need to buy smart and sell smart. Beginning with the most basic rationale for inspecting prior to buying, the book shows readers what to expect from the houses they’ll see, what qualities to look for, and the red flags to watch out for. As well, they’ll learn what a home inspector can and can’t do, get advice on how to find a good home inspector, and find out about options to the “professional” home inspection route. Using sidebars, checklists—and the savvy, no-nonsense style that Mike Holmes fans know and love—The Holmes Inspection is like having Mike himself along for the ride of making that biggest of investments: your own home.

Whether you're new at the home-buying or selling game in Canada, or whether you've played it before, most of us dread the onslaught of flashy, fast-talking real estate agents and property managers. Well, help has arrived. This revised edition of "Buying and Selling a Home For Canadians For Dummies" prepares you to get what you need and want when buying a new home or selling the one you're in. Everything from arranging your finances and hiring an agent, to researching neighbourhoods and assessing home values is presented in a clear and humorous way to help you get the most out of the process. Important information to help you: Market your home and sell for the highest possible price Negotiate the best price and terms of sale Find the right new neighbourhood with reasonable prices and the type of housing to suit you and your family Decide whether or not to hire an agent and tips on how to choose a good one Select the best mortgage and understand tax considerations Updated in the 2nd Edition: Examining zero percent down payments, lines of credit and other alternatives to conventional mortgages Using the 'Net: New, useful sites - and what to watch out for Buying condominiums: An expanded chapter full of useful information on what you need to know before you buy Selling your home on your own: Expanded online resources and tips Fixing up your home to sell: Tips from the designers on how to make your home as sellable as possible

Make your next house sale or purchase a homerun with the latest edition of this celebrated Canadian guide In the Fifth Edition of Buying and Selling a Home For Canadians For Dummies, best-selling authors and real estate experts Douglas Gray and Peter Mitham unpack the good, the bad, and the "I can't believe I didn't think of that" of buying or selling a home in Canada. Buyers will discover the answers to the questions that have kept them up at night, from whether they need an agent to what they should look for in a new home. Sellers will find out how to price their home for maximum value, the real costs associated with real estate sales, and how to list their place. Real estate doesn't have to be intimidating. Gray and Mitham show you how to navigate a home sale or purchase with skill and confidence and have fun doing it. You'll: Identify unique, regional issues you should consider whether you're buying a condo in Toronto or a two-bedroom in Yellowknife Discover how to maximize your home's asking price by presenting it in its best light Learn the tricks of the trade when it comes to finding hidden gems and diamonds in the rough in a seller's market Perfect for first-time home buyers and sellers as well as people who've been around the block a few times, Buying and Selling a Home For Canadians For Dummies is the ultimate guide for Canucks who are looking for expert help throughout this seriously important and exciting process.

"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!"--

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