Home Buying Kit For Dummies [Paperback]

The top choice among home buyers in need of assistance

Home Buying Kit For Dummies is your one-stop guide to navigating the housing market and buying a home. This updated book helps you through the largestand most complexpurchase you're likely to make, offering a map to navigating the occasionally choppy waters of home buying. Get insight on evaluating your financial readiness to buy a house, securing a mortgage, building a team of advisors, negotiating a deal, and getting your new home ready after you buy. A small investment in know-how will make a big difference, making every step of the home buying process smoother.

• Understand interest rates and determine your budget for buying a new home
• Learn how to get approved for a mortgage and recognize fair house prices
• Get a real estate agent and find the home that fits your needs
• Survive the inspection and appraisal stage, then seal the deal

This book is a perfect choice for first-time and inexperienced home buyers who need advice on the steps in buying a home.

Introduction 1

Part 1: Getting Started with Buying a Home 5

Chapter 1: Deciding Whether to Buy 7

Chapter 2: Getting Your Financial House in Order 23

Chapter 3: What Can You Afford to Buy? 39

Chapter 4: Why Home Prices Rise and Fall. 69

Part 2: Financing 101 83

Chapter 5: Understanding and Improving Your Credit Score 85

Chapter 6: Selecting a Mortgage 103

Chapter 7: Mortgage Quandaries, Conundrums, and Forms 133

Part 3: Property, Players, and Prices 161

Chapter 8: Where and What to Buy 163

Chapter 9: AsselÓ"