Buy Your First Home! [Paperback]

Robert Irwin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2000

With more than 50,000 copies in print, Robert Irwin's classic guide continues to answer questions for first time home buyers.

Speaking with a voice of experience and authority, Irwin shares stories of some his own mistakes and successes, while offering take to the bank insights, easy to use checklists and comprehensive how to advice for first time home buyers. He discusses everything a first time buyer needs to know, from the initial rent versus buy decision, to credit, mortgages, inspections, real estate documents and what they mean, all the way through to the move. Then, when it's all done, the paperwork signed, the large checks turned over, Irwin also helps first time homeowners deal with the nearly common feeling of "buyer's remorse" that often overcomes them at the end of the process.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"First-time home buyers can't go wrong studying this book to gain confidence and avoid making costly mistakes." --Robert Bruss, Tribune Syndicate

Achieve the Dream of Home Ownership!

Updated with the best online resources available, the second edition of Robert Irwin's bestselling book, Buy Your First Home!, will help first-time homebuyers navigate the homebuying process. From selecting a property to closing, Irwin answers your questions and coaches you every step of the way.

Buy Your First Home! addresses all the potential roadblocks a first-time homebuyer might encounter, including how to:

* Determine whether it's better to buy or rent.
* Identify "must have" features and an affordable price range.
* Scope out available properties using the Internet.
* Obtain your credit history using online resources.
* Find the best mortgage and arrange preapproval of financing.
* Deal with disclosures and inspections.

Complete with up-to-date information on everything from taxes to technology, Irwin equips first-timers with the knowledge necessary to move forward into the homebuying process as informed consumers.

About the Author

With more than 30 years' experience in all aspects of the real estate industry, Robert Irwin can provide the easy to use guidance that home sellers need to profit when selling on their own. With more than 60 real estate books published over his long and distinguished career, Irwin is one of the nation's most sought after real estate experts.

Product Details

• Paperback: 186 pages
• Publisher: Kaplan Publishing; 2nd edition (April 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0793136008
• ISBN-13: 978-0793136001
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,957,388 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful, Helpful Book!, June 7, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Buy Your First Home! (Paperback)

This book was extremely helpful to my husband and myself when we were trying to look for a new house. The book gives you step by step guides on what to do when buying..a plus for us first time home buyers. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is planning on buying a house or condo. Clear and understandable language. A very useful book! A++++

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good to start with a short book first, December 28, 2001

By 

J. Leigh "jleigh7" (chicago) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Buy Your First Home! (Paperback)

I started trying to figure all this out by reading a book of 100 questions and answers about home buying (by Glink). Boy was that confusing!

If you're a busy professional like me, you first need an executive summary and then you can go into the detailed analysis. This book is an executive summary. It gives you the whole picture first so you have a road map in front of you. You can read it in 2 casual sittings and at the end of it you are not overwhelmed by data. You get a holistic sense of what the process is about.

Now you can fill in the gaps by reading one of the longer books.

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This helped me understand the homebuying process, July 8, 2001

By 

B. Bishop (SALT LAKE CITY, UT United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Buy Your First Home! (Paperback)

I bought this book along with "The 106 Common Mistakes Homebuyers Make (& How to Avoid Them)" (Gary W. Eldred, Ph.D.) and enjoyed both. Irwin's book neatly describes the complete homebuying process and is extremely easy to read. Included in the book are several checklists that I found useful, and discussions on financing options, home remodeling considerations, and tax impacts that owning a home will create. I read the book in a couple days' time and often referred back to it as I was going through the homebuying process; I'm sure you will, too.