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| Preface | |
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| Acknowledgments | |
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| Foreword | |
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| Introduction to Homeownership | |
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| Personal and Financial Advantages | |
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| Fixed Mortgage Payments | |
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| House Value Increases | |
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| Tax Benefits | |
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| Your House as your Savings Account | |
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| Other Advantages | |
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| Ready or Not? | |
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| Are you Financially Ready? | |
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| Create a Budget | |
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| Track Non-Housing Expenses | |
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| Track Monthly Expenses | |
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| Monthly Expense Tracking Worksheet | |
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| Analyze your Monthly Income | |
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| Monthly Income Worksheet | |
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| What Does it Cost to Buy a Home? | |
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| Where will all that money come from? | |
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| Financing Options | |
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| Upfront Costs | |
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| The Down Payment | |
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| Low Down Payment Mortgage Solutions | |
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| Government Agencies | |
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| HUD/FHA | |
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| Ginnie Mae | |
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| Department Of Veterans Affairs | |
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| Closing Costs | |
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| Settling-In Costs | |
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| Ongoing Costs | |
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| Ready or Not? | |
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| It's Time to Get Pre-Approved | |
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| What do I do now? | |
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| Pre-approve or Pre-qualify? | |
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| Lending Professionals | |
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| Lender | |
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| Mortgage Broker | |
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| Internet Banking | |
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| Qualifying Guidelines | |
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| What Lenders Look For | |
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| Income | |
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| Employment History | |
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| Interest Rates/Terms | |
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| Debt | |
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| Credit History | |
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| Your Credit Report Can Be Decisive! | |
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| If Your Credit Report Is Favorable | |
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| If Your Credit Report Is Unfavorable | |
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| If Your Credit Report Is Wrong | |
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| More Credit Information is Available | |
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| Non-Traditional Credit History | |
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| Savings Accounts | |
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| What's Next? | |
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| Pre-Approval Checklist | |
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| What Do You Want In a Home? | |
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| Decisions… Decisions… | |
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| Do You Know What You're Looking For? | |
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| Lifestyle Features | |
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| New House or Old? | |
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| Location | |
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| Size | |
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| Types of Homes | |
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| Single-Family Detached | |
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| Condominium | |
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| Townhouse | |
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| Co-op | |
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| Duplex | |
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| Style, Construction Material, and More | |
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| Develop a Wish List | |
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| New Home Wish List | |
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| How to Find an Agent | |
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| I need a Real Estate Professional! | |
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| Experience Counts | |
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| Qualities of a Good Agent | |
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| Who Pays Your Agent? | |
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| Types of Agents | |
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| Broker/Salesperson | |
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| Agents | |
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| Realtor | |
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| Part/Full Time Agents | |
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| Commit to your Agent | |
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| Looking For a Home | |
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| Expect to Make Compromises | |
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| Locating Homes For Sale | |
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| Classified Ads | |
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| Word of Mouth | |
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| For Sale Signs | |
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| New Construction | |
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| Record Keeping | |
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| Gift Programs | |
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| Negotiating the Purchase | |
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| Decision Making Factors | |
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| Considerations | |
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| Local Market Value | |
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| Condition of the Property | |
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| Sellers Circumstances | |
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| Price You Can Afford | |
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| Seller's Contribution | |
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| Strategize your Negotiation | |
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| Local Market Conditions | |
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| Condition of the Property | |
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| Sellers Circumstances | |
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| Price you can Afford | |
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| How much is your down payment? | |
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| Is this Property Affordable? | |
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| Negotiating the Purchase Offer | |
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| Pricing the Offer | |
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| Submitting the Offer | |
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| The Purchase and Sale Agreement | |
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| Legal Description | |
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| Earnest Money | |
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| Offer Price | |
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| Down Payment | |
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| Financing Terms | |
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| Personal Property | |
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| Closing and Occupancy Dates | |
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| Expiration Date of the Offer | |
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| Contingency Requirements | |
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| Financing Contingency | |
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| Inspection Contingencies | |
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| Appraisal Contingency | |
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| Clear Title | |
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| Other Provisions | |
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| Repair Work | |
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| Walk-through Inspection | |
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| Negotiating the Counteroffer | |
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| You Have a Deal | |
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| Disclosure and Home Inspections | |
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| The Real Estate Transfer Disclosure Statement | |
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| When State Law does not require Disclosure | |
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| Disclosure and Government Loans | |
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| The Disclosure Form | |
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| The Home Inspection | |
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| The Preliminary Home Inspection | |
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| Step 1 � Interview | |
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| Step 2 � Examine | |
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| Step 3 � Analyze | |
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| The Professional Home Inspection | |
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| Choosing your Inspector | |
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| Scope of the Inspection | |
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| Insurance Coverage | |
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| Your Role | |
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| Outcome of the Home Inspection | |
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| Obtain a Mortgage | |
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| Shopping, Comparing and Negotiating | |
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| Mortgage Lender or a Mortgage Broker? | |
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| Mortgage Banker | |
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| Mortgage Broker | |
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| Fixed Rate or Adjustable Rate Mortgage? | |
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| Discount Points | |
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| Loan Origination Fees | |
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| Interest rate | |
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| Transaction, Settlement or Closing Costs | |
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| Mortgage Insurance | |
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| Private Mortgage Insurance | |
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| Mortgage Insurance Premiums | |
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| The "1003" Application | |
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| Disclosures | |
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| Title Search and Title Insurance | |
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| Property Insurance | |
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| Underwriting | |
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| Close the Deal | |
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| The Real Estate Settlement Process | |
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| Itemized Settlement Costs | |
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| How to Contact Credit Reporting Agencies | |
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| Federal Programs | |
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| Good Faith Estimate Settlement Statement | |
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| Residential Sales Contract | |
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| State Housing Finance Agencies | |
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| Key Internet Information Resources | |
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| Glossary | |
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| Index | |