The Smart Consumer's Guide to Home Buying (Barron's Smart Consumer Guides) - Softcover

Buying a home is, in the authors' words, both a romantic journey and a business venture. For most families, it's the largest single investment they will ever make. The purpose of this book is to transform home buyers--especially first-time buyers--into smart consumers who can evaluate a property objectively as step number one in deciding whether or not to buy. The authors take their readers by the hand through the maze of mortgage shopping, dealing with real estate agents, and hunting down that perfect dream house. Some of the many questions they help prospective buyers answer are:

Consideration of family needs: how many rooms, what kind of neighborhood, access to schools, shopping, and the like

Is the home affordable? Considerations include the size of the down payment, the size and type of mortgage, projecting monthly payments, and allowing for unforeseen expenses

Making an offer and negotiating with sellers and real estate agents

The close, settlement, and escrow

Remodeling: adding to a home and making improvements

Investment Property: understanding market values

Selling a home . . . and much, much more

Because this book addresses a national audience, it is necessarily general when making reference to local situations. However, the authors offer practical advice on how readers can find reliable local professional assistance in their quest to purchase a home.

(back cover)
Buying a home is--in the author's words--"both a romantic journey and a business venture, and is likely to be the largest single investment you will ever make. This book takes you by the hand through the maze of mortgage shopping, dealing with real estate agents, and hunting down that perfect dream house. Some of the many details the authors help you deal with include—

Consideration of your family’s needs: How many rooms, what kind of neighborhood, access to schools and shopping.

Mortgage shopping: How to select the best type and size of mortgage to match your income and budget, and to allow for unforeseen future expenses.

Professional Assistance: How to select and work with real estate professionals.

Closing: Detailed advice on negotiating with sellers.

You'll also get advice on many details that you'll encounter after you've moved into your home--for instance, making improvements, and understanding how to measure market value if the time comes to sell your home. Here is reliable information from a team of seasoned professionals, advice that you'll value as you and your family go shopping for that home of your dreams.