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

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

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.

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

Though fun and exciting, buying a home can also be complicated and confusing—and most people learn the hard way that a wrong move can cost dearly. In order to find the perfect home at the best price, you must have skill, foresight, and a little guidance from experienced professionals. Home Buying for Dummies, Third Edition provides just that! Packed with invaluable advice in an objective, down-to-earth style that will have you sitting in your dream home in no time, this friendly guide contains everything you need to know to play the home buying game. It has the tools you need to: Improve your credit score and select a mortgage Choose a time and place to buy Determine the price you want to pay Assemble an all-star real estate team Make use of the wonderful world of the Internet Negotiate your best deal Inspect and protect your home Handle and become responsible for the title Cope with buyer’s remorse Featured in this guide are tips and tricks on things you should do after you seal the deal, as well as things you ought to know about real estate investing. Also included is advice on how to sell your house, as well as a sample real estate purchase contract and a good inspection report. Don’t get chewed up by the real estate market—Home Buying for Dummies, Third Edition will lead you to the home you want!

Created especially for the Australian customer! Learn to: Find the perfect property for you Finance your dream Choose from an established home, brand-new property or a 'fixer-upper' Get your foot on the property ladder! Open the book and find: Strategies for getting your deposit together Pros and cons of buying a period home What's involved with becoming an owner–builder Pitfalls to consider when buying 'off the plan' How to secure a home loan if you're self-employed Tactics to beat the auctioneersat their own game Unearth your dream home and negotiate the mortgage maze Do you search property websites, wondering whether a particular property could be your dream home? Do you feel like you're wasting money on rent but are confused by the world of real estate — and real estate agents? Relax! This practical guide covers all aspects of buying property, from buying a piece of history to building from scratch to signing on the dotted line. Work out whether you're ready to buy — find out whether you're ready for the commitment of buying property, financially and psychologically Focus in on the right property for you — determine your 'must haves' and 'like to haves', and whether you'll need to make a trade-off between these and your preferred location Decide what kind of property you want — discover if your best option is to buy off the plan, find an established property or build yourself Deal with property professionals — cut through real estate agent spin and understand how buyers' agents work Find the right finance — choose the home loan that suits you and your finances Negotiate a great deal — move smoothly through the buying and settlement process, whether buying at auction or through private treaty sale

This guide provides an overview of the many components of the popular practice of flipping properties. Coverage spans the flipping process from start to finish—finding, buying, fixing up, and selling—and the variables needed to make all of those steps successful and profitable. Also included is coverage on negotiating, property inspections, mortgages, taxes, and working with contractors, brokers, and real estate agents. The book is perfect for responsible investors who want to flip houses the right way and steer clear of legal gray areas that get some investors into trouble.

Though fun and exciting, buying a home can also be complicated and confusing—and most people learn the hard way that a wrong move can cost dearly. In order to find the perfect home at the best price, you must have skill, foresight, and a little guidance from experienced professionals. Home Buying for Dummies, Third Edition provides just that! Packed with invaluable advice in an objective, down-to-earth style that will have you sitting in your dream home in no time, this friendly guide contains everything you need to know to play the home buying game. It has the tools you need to: Improve your credit score and select a mortgage Choose a time and place to buy Determine the price you want to pay Assemble an all-star real estate team Make use of the wonderful world of the Internet Negotiate your best deal Inspect and protect your home Handle and become responsible for the title Cope with buyer’s remorse Featured in this guide are tips and tricks on things you should do after you seal the deal, as well as things you ought to know about real estate investing. Also included is advice on how to sell your house, as well as a sample real estate purchase contract and a good inspection report. Don’t get chewed up by the real estate market—Home Buying for Dummies, Third Edition will lead you to the home you want!