Property Book Shop - The First-Time Homeowner's Handbook: A Complete Guide and Workbook for the First-Time Home Buyer (Book & CD-ROM)

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Manufacturer: Atlantic Publishing Company

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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 643.120973222
EAN: 9780910627702
ISBN: 0910627703
Label: Atlantic Publishing Company
Manufacturer: Atlantic Publishing Company
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 288
Publication Date: 2006-09-12
Publisher: Atlantic Publishing Company
Studio: Atlantic Publishing Company

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Spotlight customer reviews:

Customer Rating:

Summary: a book true to its title
Comment: I bought this book in preparation of buying a house - we are first time home-buyers and needed to know the basics without getting bogged down with too much jargon or poorly-written advice. I found the book easy to read and the chapters helpful without sacrificing important information that I needed to know. The book comes with a CD with useful forms and other checklists for those geeks and control freaks too who like to pay attention to detail. After reading the book, I no longer felt like an ignoramus and could carry on an intelligent, 2-way conversation with realtors. It was worth the twenty bucks I paid for the book just for the peace of mind and education in house-buying.

Customer Rating:

Summary: Vital Handbook for Homebuying
Comment: We're finding out that homebuying, especially the first time around, can be quite a wild ride. This Handbook has provided great information and guidance in the process toward final first home ownership. This book is definitely recommended.

Customer Rating:

Summary: Fantastic Information
Comment: I just recently finished it and I feel like having taken a course on Real Estate 101. It is helpful, practical, and easy to read. It has great tools like check-off lists and sample contracts all on a complimentary CD.

We are looking into buying a house and this has given me a great base of knowledge to start making smarter decision.

Worth the $$.

Customer Rating:

Summary: excellent advice for all homebuyers
Comment:
Though this book's title specifies that it's for the first time buyer, my advice would be to pick it up and read it thoroughly regardless of how many times you've bought or built. It is a super compendium of all the steps a buyer needs to take, including information on motivation and emotions in home buying, taxes, paperwork, hiring a professional advocate such as a lawyer or real estate agent, and an in-depth discussion of how to find out your credit score. The section on credit also gives good advice about establishing and maintaining a good credit score that would be helpful for anyone trying to finance a large purchase. The information in this book should be available from the real estate agent you're working with, but it's good to know it yourself in case the agent isn't keeping your well-being in mind at all times.

I also appreciated the straightforward, matter-of-fact tone of this book. There were no embellishments, just the information in a logical, easy to understand format. It also includes a 15 page glossary, helpful for the novice. Five stars out of five.

Customer Rating:

Summary: Feel Confident Buying Your First Home
Comment: First off, let me say that my husband and I really appreciate the CD. It has all the forms and lists we needed to feel confident when we bought our first home. From building costs and budget worksheets, to banking support, these documents were a big help.

From why you want to own your own home, what to do when you find the one you're looking for, and what to expect at closing, this handbook walks you through the process. This step-by-step guide shows you how to fill out the attached forms and gives you confidence that is sure to eliminate any buyer's remorse you would have felt after your purchase.

Overall, the book was very helpful and will be a useful tool for anyone going through the process for the first time. Buying your first house doesn't have to be scary. This handbook makes the process an understandable and exciting experience.

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Editorial Reviews:

The procedure of buying a home can be a scary experience. There are a lot of people to deal with, from realtors to attorneys to bankers. There's tons of paperwork with terms and vocabulary that read like a foreign language. In this new book you will find vital information and great strategies that will allow you to find your dream home faster and feel confident about the purchase. You will learn to avoid some of the most prevalent—and potentially dangerous and expensive—mistakes made by first-time home buyers.

According to Money Magazine, "Over the past five years, home values nationally have risen 65 percent while the stock market has fallen." Now is the time to get into the real estate marketplace. With the help of this comprehensive new guide, you will learn how to find the best opportunities, negotiating, financing, budgets, needs and wants, credit reports, home-buying timeline, the process of building a house, manufactured homes, real estate and mortgage glossaries, setting values, home warranties, homeowners insurance, creative financing, buying with little or no money down, closing, moving plans, walk-throughs, closing and settlement inspections, legal contracts, mortgages, what you can afford, deciding which neighborhood to choose, hiring a realtor, which government agencies can help, considerations for veterans, IRA use, hiring an attorney, the offer, calculating monthly payments, and escrow.

This comprehensive resource contains a wealth of modern tips and strategies for financing and closing on a property. The author shows readers how to find out how much they're really worth, how to uncover unknown assets, and how to enhance credit ratings within six months, provides information and suggestions on everything from no-down-payment mortgages to finding the right agent. It leads you down the path to home ownership, one step at a time. Though you may be relatively cash-poor or have a less-than-perfect credit rating, you can acquire a mortgage and find the house you've always wanted.