Buying a first home is a huge undertaking -- and you thought dealing with mortgage lenders and the closing was the hard part. Once those final papers are signed you are responsible for maintaining your home, paying all the bills, hiring plumbers and electricians...the works! And it's crucial to do things right the first time, without wasting time and money, because there's no landlord or super to fall back on. The Unofficial Guide to Being a Homeowner helps first-time homeowners do just that. It's packed with totally up-to-date insider's advice on every aspect of caring for a house -- advice that could potentially save buyers thousands of dollars.

The inside scoop . . .for when you want more than the official line No matter what your budget and taste, finding the perfect home is a daunting task. How do you even know where to start? Here you'll find the inside scoop on every step of the homebuying process-from calculating your budget to negotiating the deal and handling the closing. The Unofficial Guide to Buying a Home, Second Edition gives savvy consumers like you a foolproof appraisal of which homebuying strategies work and which don't. This updated edition is perfect for first-time homebuyers and includes new information on using the Internet to find your home, buying condos, and utilizing government funding programs. It walks you through the entire homebuying process: from searching for a home, to making an offer, through the inspection, and on to the closing, you can be confident that your investment is sound. The guide also offers expanded coverage of the monetary issues involved in purchasing a home, including new means of determining creditworthiness and new types of available loans, as well as helping you decide how much home you can-and should-purchase. Vital Information that other sources can't or won't reveal-from what really motivates sellers, brokers, loan officers, and other key players in the homebuying game, to how to work most effectively with your agent. Insider Secrets on how to make real estate law work in your favor. Money-Saving Techniques that show you how to take advantage of tax breaks and how to time your search to exploit seasonal variations in the market. Time-Saving Tips on streamlining the homebuying process so you find the home you want as quickly as possible. The Latest Trends in homebuying, including up-to-date tips on using the Internet to find your home, a realtor, or a mortgage. Handy Checklists and Charts to help you determine your budget and stick to it.

The inside scoop… for when you want more than the official line! From real estate supersites to online financing sources, the Internet has made buying a home dramatically easier—or dramatically more complicated. If you're looking to use the Internet to buy a new home, you know you need a guide that alerts you to all your alternatives, from the initial investigation to pulling off moving day. You want the inside scoop! The Unofficial Guide™ to Buying a Home Online is designed to give savvy consumers like you a foolproof appraisal of how to use the Internet to research cities and neighborhoods, tap into the smartest sources of residential financing, and find insurance. In this book you'll get unbiased recommendations that are not influenced by any company, product, or organization. The Unofficial Guide™ to Buying a Home Online is intensively inspected by The Unofficial Panel of Experts: Tamara and Robert Gordon, who are currently searching for a home online; Al Napier, a successful Realtor who pioneered the use of the Internet for buying a home online; Howard Savage, a U.S. Department of Commerce economist whose current work involves analysis of residential mortgage markets; and Timothy W. Thompson, a real estate developer and builder who has launched several online real estate sites. These specialists ensure that you are armed with the most up-to-date insider information on the subject of buying a home online and are told exactly what "the Official establishment" doesn't want you to know. Vital Information on tapping into the vast array of online home-buying resources available Insider Secrets on the pros and cons of FSBOs, securing the lowest down payment, negotiating a great deal, and finding the most reasonable home inspection and insurance options Money-Saving Techniques on using the Internet to track down financing options and making the most of the tax benefits of home ownership Time-Saving Tips on improving your credit rating, calculating your maximum mortgage amount, and selecting a Realtor The Latest Trends in building your own home, finding financing online, and marketing and selling your home online Handy Checklists and Charts to help you determine your net worth, choose between renting and buying, prequalify for a mortage, and more visit us on-line at www.idgbooks.com

In real estate, it's a buyer's market—and here is the buyer's bible . . . Buying a home is the single most important financial move in most people's lives. This book covers a variety of topics including inspecting, evaluating, negotiating, financing, contracts, and legal issues. It also breaks down the roles of the key players and what these professionals, agents, brokers, and inspectors are responsible for—and when to go it alone. The thorough advice, covering everything from buying houses at auctions to what neighborhood to live in, will provide reassurance for every soon–to–be homeowner. • A necessary tool for those who plan to buy homes and even current homeowners in order to keep up with an ever changing market • Will be published in time for spring, when most people start looking into buying new homes • Covers a broad range of buying options and homeowner's needs

"Details on the new Frozen attractions at Epcot"--Spine.

The inside scoop...for when you want more than the official line! Perhaps you've seen TV shows on flipping and thought, "I can do that." Maybe you're tempted by the lure of easy profits. There is money to be made by flipping residential properties, but there's risk involved, too. This book helps you get started or improve your flipping skills (and your profits) with info on finding appropriate properties, financing your purchase, making improvements that will pay off, negotiating with contractors, and more. Whether you're interested in undertaking only cosmetic improvements or in totally gutting a property, this guide helps you with everything from choosing and redoing the right house or condo to selling it for maximum profit. With tips from experienced flippers, it includes: Vital Information on finding and financing the right property Insider Secrets on using and leveraging someone else's money Money-Saving Techniques such as refacing or painting cabinets and updating the hardware Time-Saving Tips such as consolidating your purchases (appliances, materials, tools, etc.) at a home improvement center The Scoop on staging a property inside and out for maximum impact Expert Advice to help you assess a property's profitability, set and monitor your budget, and more