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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
List of contents
The Missing Credits
Introduction
Part I: Preparing for Home Ownership
Chapter 1: The Benefits and Drawbacks of Home Ownership
Chapter 2: How Much Home Can You Afford?
Part II: Finding Your Home
Chapter 3: Choose Your Style of Home and Neighborhood
Chapter 4: Assemble Your Real Estate Team
Chapter 5: Shop for Your Home
Part III: Financing Your Home
Chapter 6: Finance Your Down Payment
Chapter 7: Compare Mortgages and Other Financing Options
Chapter 8: Choose and Apply for a Mortgage
Chapter 9: Know Your Closing Costs
Part IV: Negotiating and Closing the Deal
Chapter 10: Make an Offer
Chapter 11: Prepare for the Closing
Chapter 12: Inspect the Property
Chapter 13: Close the Deal
About the author
Nancy Conner has a PhD in English from Brown University and has taught writing, including technical writing, to college students for more than a dozen years. She is currently a freelance copyeditor, specializing in technical books covering topics ranging from the MS Office suite to programming languages to advanced network security.
Summary
Takes you through the process of buying a home, from start to finish. This book offers you 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.
