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

by Atlantic Publishing Company (Author) "Facing high home prices and the attendant financial obligations of home ownership, many people today view a home purchase as well beyond their reach..." (more)
Key Phrases: ticular paragraph, mortgage credit report, escrow holder, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Las Vegas (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
It is a comprehensive and essential guide for taking each step of new home ownership with confidence. -- Karen A. Ebert, Realtor, RMP, MPM, e-PRO

Product Description
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.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Atlantic Publishing Company (September 12, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0910627703
• ISBN-13: 978-0910627702
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #137,732 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #23 in	Books > Business & Investing > Personal Finance > Financial Planning Workbooks
  #47 in	Books > Business & Investing > Industries & Professions > Purchasing & Buying
  #66 in	Books > Business & Investing > Real Estate > Buying & Selling Homes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Guide for the First Time Home Buyer, October 17, 2006

By	Patricia Hughes (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is a must have if you are interested in purchasing your first home. The home buying process can be confusing and scary. This handbook takes the fear out of buying a home for the first time. The author takes you step by step through the process from finances to after the closing. The glossary in the back helps you become familiar with real estate and mortgage terminology.

Read this book before you start looking for a house. There is a lot of valuable information included that will save you headaches later. The advice will help you find a real estate agent and the perfect home. Worksheets and tips help you determine how much you can afford to spend on your new home and the book contains advice for cleaning up credit problems. Tips from real estate agents are located throughout the book and are very helpful.

The appendix at the back of the book has a lot of valuable information and forms. There are contracts, forms typically used in real estate transactions, a budget worksheet and a questionnaire to help you choose an agent. The forms are also on the CD ROM that is included in the back of the book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A very good but rudimentary starting point, November 21, 2008

By	Yoda (Hadera, Israel) - See all my reviews

This book is an excellent starting point for anyone seeking a book on first-time home buying. It covers all the major topics needed (i.e., looking for agent, escrow, financing, etc.). It is simply written and can be read in about 3-4 hours. The only problem is that it is very rudimentary and should not be read alone. It needs to be supplemented with other more detailed information after being read. Highly recommend reading "100 Questions Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Ask: With Answers from Top Brokers from Around the Country" after reading in order to get more depth of coverage of the various aspects of home buying that, basically, are only touched upon in this book.

7 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Home Buying Simplified, October 5, 2006

By	Darcy B. Frisina - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Buying a new home can be an overwhelming experience for anyone, but especially for first time buyers. This book is written expressly for individuals buying their first home. The entire procedure is broken down into small, sequential pieces which can be easily understood by the reader. All aspects of home buying are covered, including the next steps following the purchase of a new home.

The book also includes a wonderful CD-ROM containing over thirty different worksheets, forms, and sample contracts. Although each state has its own specific laws and regulations, these forms will help the first time buyers acquaint themselves with the process and feel more at ease with the paperwork. Included in the worksheets is a questionnaire to be used when interviewing real estate agents, arguably the most important decision when beginning to search for a house.

This book simplifies the process of home buying for the novice. I would recommend this book for people who are intimidated by the prospect of buying a home. The knowledge and presentation of the book will ease the minds of prospective buyers and empower them in the home buying process.