Your First Home

Property & real estate.

Record Foreclosures. Mortgage Meltdown. Credit Crunch. The headlines are filled with doom and gloom about the housing market. Despite the bad news, millions of people in the United States still want to achieve the American Dream of homeownership - and millions more are trying desperately to hang on to homes they previously bought.Maybe you're one of them. Too bad nobody ever taught you how to become a smart homebuyer - or even told you the whole truth about whether you were really ready to own a home at all.Until now.In Your First Home: The Smart Way to Get It and Keep It, Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach, offers a no-hype personal finance guide that will help you prepare for, find and finance the home of your dreams.For those worried about making the leap from renter to owner, Lynnette explains how to turn bad credit into perfect credit, in seven simple steps. Lynnette walks you step-by-step through the house-hunting and mortgage application process, saving you money and unnecessary frustration.

"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!"--

Should I buy a house, condominium, or co-op? How do I find the best mortgage and financing options? How can I read between the lines of the seller’s disclosures? How do I find a fixer-upper? With more than 50,000 copies in print, Robert Irwin’s classic guide, Buy Your First Home!, continues to answer these and hundreds of other questions for first-time homebuyers. In this crisp, updated third edition, Irwin presents all-new information about the homebuying process, financing options, budgeting, and taxes-plus reorganized chapters that give first-timers the facts they need to make key decisions. Speaking with a voice of experience and authority, Irwin shares more stories of some of his own mistakes and successes, while offering take-to-the-bank insights, easy-to-use checklists, and comprehensive how-to advice for first-time buyers. He discusses everything a first-time buyer needs to know, from the initial rent versus buy decision, to credit, mortgages, inspections, real estate documents and what they mean, all the way through to the move. Then, when it’s all done, the paperwork signed, the large checks turned over, Irwin also helps first-time homeowners deal with the nearly common feeling of ""buyer’s remorse"" that often overcomes them at the end of the process. Buy Your First Home! walks readers carefully through every step of the process, so that they can cross the threshold into their first home with confidence. A must-have reference for the first-time homebuyer’s library. Highlights Buy Your First Home! shows readers how to survive the homebuying process and thrive afterward, including how to: •Determine ""need to have"" features and an affordable price range. •Scope out available properties using the Internet. •Handle pitfalls and delays, such as loss of important documents or problems in an inspector’s report. •Negotiate fees and terms successfully with lenders.

From the most trusted name in real estate, a new and fully updated edition of the indispensable guide that helps first-time buyers land the home of their dreams What does "location, location, location" really mean? How do I decide what to offer on a house? What exactly is the closing? Buying a home is one of the most important decisions in any person's life. It will be the place where you plant your roots, come home after a long day, raise a family, or make a successful investment. But how, with everything from student loans and an uncertain marketplace stacked against you, do you get to that idyllic future? In 100 Questions Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Ask, Ilyce Glink, one of the most trusted names in real estate, answers all of your questions about home buying--and some you didn't know you had--and takes you on a personal journey from open houses to moving day. Weaving together advice from top brokers around the country with illustrative stories and her own unparalleled expertise, 100 Questions is a one-stop shop to getting the home of your dreams.

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

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.)

First time home buying is a special occasion in everyone's life. But because of the complexities around it, most people approach it with a mix of fear, anxiety, and uncertainty. This book was written with the sole purpose of making the process easier and more predictable. The book has tried to demystify the entire process by avoiding the jargon as much as possible. The book first helps you in deciding whether you are ready to buy or not and then gives a step by step instruction on what you can expect along the process should you decide to buy. The book takes it a step further and even advises you on steps you can take to remain a happy home owner. The book has been designed with a lot of thought, keeping you the reader in mind. It's broken down into 5 sections. Section 1 is titled "Getting Ready." It helps with the preliminary work you need to do to even consider home buying. Section 2 provides all the information you need to find your first home and get your offer accepted. Section 3 teaches you about different financing and down payment options. Section 4 details the loan process and the blunders to avoid. Section 5 is all about life after home ownership. From decorating ideas to how to pay off your mortgage faster, you will find invaluable tips in this section to stay a happy homeowner for years to come. Authored by Shashank Shekhar, a mortgage industry veteran and one of the top Loan Officers in the country, the tips and tricks come directly from the trenches.

Your best guide to buying Your First Home. The first time you ride a bike, share a kiss, or drive a car—there's something thrilling about firsts. The adventure of buying your first home is no less memorable. And like most adventure, you'll face challenges, learn new skills, and have novel experiences along the way. Ever explored six strangers' homes in a single day> Get ready! Every pay more than six figures for anything? Take a deep breath! Ever sign a hundred or so legal documents in a single sitting (and love every nerve-wracking minute of it)? Limber up your writing hand—an incredible yet memorable journeys awaits. Assembled from hundreds of interviews, in-depth research, and decades of experience, Your First Home: The Proven Path to Homeownership is your trusted guide. Your First Home will help you: Navigate the real estate buying process, from home search to closing day Secure a real estate agent to advocate for you Find a lender you can trust Secure the lowest interest rate and monthly payments Identify a home that's right for you Craft a winning offer Negotiate with sellers Settle into homeownership with style This second edition is expanded to address new trends and share new tools to help you find, finance, and buy a home you'll be proud of for years to come.