Description
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 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. 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
