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

The inside scoop . . .for when you want more than the official line So you've decided to invest in real estate--congratulations!--but now you need to know how you can best manage your property and maximize your profit. How much should you spend on renovations? Where will you find responsible tenants? And how can you keep on top of new government regulations? The Unofficial Guide? to Managing Rental Property answers these questions and many more, giving you insider guidance and valuable tips on managing and profiting from your investments. You'll find savvy advice on everything from legally setting rental criteria and managing properties part-time to successfully evicting delinquent tenants and collecting damages. This comprehensive, easy-to-follow guide reveals what other sources can't or won't, presenting unbiased recommendations to help you get the most out of your investments--and enjoy them! * Vital Information on finding and financing great rental property and calculating rent and profit. * Insider Secrets on selecting and retaining good tenants, ensuring on-time rent, and collecting late rent. * Money-Saving Tips for rehabbing a property and obtaining good tax advice. * The Latest Trends in writing legal, effective ads and interviewing and screening applicants to avoid potential problems. * Handy Forms and Letters for contracting new tenants and communicating with current occupants.

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! We've all heard stories of the millionaire real-estate tycoons who started out by scraping together enough money for a down payment on a modest first property-or so the legend goes. And we've all seen the books that promise to show you how to make a million dollars buying houses with no money down. But when average people like us can barely pay the mortgage or the rent, we don't need get-rich-quick schemes or hocus-pocus-we need the inside scoop on how real estate investing can improve our lives. The Unofficial Guide to Real Estate Investing, Second Edition, gives savvy readers like you a foolproof appraisal of everything from the most basic concepts of real estate investing to complicated tax and financing formulations. Millions of Americans got burned when the Internet bubble burst and corporate scoundrels ran off with their retirement accounts. Now they're discovering that real estate can be their ticket to a prosperous retirement. Fully updated to take account of new tax law changes and now including listings of current apartment owners' associations in all 50 states, this new edition is friendlier and more comprehensive than ever. If you're looking for a long-term investment that you can control-safe from robber barons and market swings-look no further than The Unofficial Guide to Real Estate Investing, Second Edition. * Vital Information on the inside world of real estate investing * Insider Secrets on tax shelter benefits * Money-Saving Techniques for valuing property correctly and determining its most profitable use * Time-Saving Tips on borrowing money and discovering which investments have the potential to turn into tomorrow's hot properties * The Latest Trends in hot real estate investing options * Handy Checklists and charts that help you put together a top-rate investment plan, generate cash flow, and pick the best real estate agent