100 Questions Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Ask: With Answers from Top Brokers from Around the Country - Softcover

Buying a home requires skill in a variety of areas. There's negotiating, financing, inspecting a home, and understanding legal contracts. It's really too much for most people to do by themselves, which, as you know by now, is why most of us pay good money to hire real estate agents, mortgage brokers, home inspectors, and other professionals to help with the process. But that doesn't remove the buyer from the role of project manager, whose job is to understand what each specialist is meant to do and recognize when one of those key players is not doing his or her job right. Books such as 100 Questions Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Ask help the novice gain a solid understanding of the basics involved in this often complex process. The questions in this second edition of author Ilyce R. Glink's book also make buyers think about their decisions. If you want to buy an older home, for example, do you understand that older windows may need caulking or new sashes, that bathroom tiles may need regrouting, and that an older home may need rewiring, a new hot water heater, or a new furnace right away? Other questions range from the routine (How much can I afford? How do I make an offer?) to some that are hard to anticipate (What if the seller wants to stay in the house after the closing? Who should attend the closing?). Chapters are devoted to key topics, including figuring out what kind of house you want (this effort starts with a "wish list" and improves with a "reality check"), knowing what you can afford, putting together and negotiating a deal, financing your home, closing on the deal, and then doing what it takes to live happily ever after. Of course, living happily ever after requires understanding when it's time to move on to your next home, a process that may find you dusting off this book in the coming years. --John Russell

From the most trusted name in real estate: the indispensable guide that helps first-time buyers land the home of their dreams. Now revised and updated for today's marketplace.
, How do I know if my broker is doing a good job? (See question #18.)
, How should I decide how much to offer for a home? (See question #29.)
, How does the negotiation process work? (See question #37.)
, How much of a down payment will I need to buy my home? (See question #61.)
, What are the different types of mortgages available? (See question #75.)
, What if I'm rejected for my loan? (See question #86.)
, What exactly is the closing? And where is it held? (See question #89.)
, Will I need homeowner's insurance? What should it cover? (See question #93.)
What's new in this edition?
Internet resources for home buyers: Where to shop for a loan on the web, how to apply online for a mortgage, and how to contact the agency that regulates real estate brokers and mortgage lenders in your state
Tax laws and what they mean to you: Why the Taxpayer Relief Act is a windfall for homeowners, and how you can take full advantage of it
Buying new construction: How to compare developers and negotiate the best deal
The competitive mortgage market: How to find a reputable lender, how to find a true zero-down loan, and what service premiums tell you about your loan