Bob Vila's Guide to Buying Your Dream House (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This is something of a departure for the former host of PBS's This Old House , who is better known for his advice on fixing houses than for buying them. Thus, while the physical qualities of the would-be "dream house" are nicely covered in the several chapters on house inspection, the real value of the book is in Vila's explication of the arcane processes related to purchase and finance. These include working with a broker; shopping for a mortgage; making the offer (and negotiating the best price); and surviving the curious ritual of the closing. Throughout, Vila is more cautionary than most writers when considering the true costs of home ownership. He sees the days of speculative real estate investment as mostly over. A house, he says, is to be lived in and enjoyed. A good guide for the first-time home buyer and recommended for most public libraries.
- Bill Demo, Tompkins Cortland Community Coll., Dryden, N.Y.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

Who hasn't dreamed of owning the perfect home--and then despaired of ever obtaining it? With Bob Vila's expert advice and practical tips, the dream can come true--with a fraction of the headaches house-hunting usually incurs. (Nonfiction)((Little, Brown.

Product Details

• Paperback: 283 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown and Company; 1st edition (February 2, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316902918
• ISBN-13: 978-0316902915
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,056,923 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book I've read on the subject, September 6, 1998

By A Customer

I am extremely impressed with this book. I would recommend it to anyone planning to buy a home, even though it is intended primarily to first-timers. It is organized very effectively, making it useful as a reference for veterans. I found it more useful than books with titles like '149 questions for the homebuyer', which rarely attempt seriously to cover all the essential ground.

Chapters: 1. Do you really want to buy a house?

This is a well-balanced discussions of the pros and cons of home ownership. This is in contrast to many books I have read (and own) that unabashedly sell home ownership.

2. Prequalification - How much can you afford?

A detailed treatment of the subject, including the formulas and processes used by mortgage providers to set lending limits.

3. Study the Market

Some sensible ideas to help the buyer assess whether the market is hot or cold, and what the market conditions imply about the search.

4. What to look for in a broker

Discusses buyers agents, sellers agents and dual agents, Realtors vs. brokers, limitations of brokers, and things to look out for.

5. Narrowing the search

The first few weeks of looking. Reminds buyer to keep an open mind about style, neighborhood, new vs. old, etc. Practical considerations in choosing neighborhood and type of house/yard.

6. Recognizing the Dream I - the outside

Style, roofs, gutters, foundations, structural soundness, expansions/alterations.

7. Recognizing the Dream I - the inside

Floor plans, bathrooms and kitchens, walls, ceilings, floors, doors, windows, toxic materials.

8. Recognizing the Dream I - the major systems

Heating/cooling, compares effectiveness, cost and whether to replace. Insulation, hot water heater, water service, septic/sewage, electical system.

9. The Condo and Coop alternatives

Good discussion of advantages/disadvantages of these two with respect to financing, lifestyle and value.

10. The Bottom Line: What it will cost to buy

Short chapter on last minute cost considerations before making an offer.

11. Putting it in writing

Very good treatise on the timeline and legal implications of the offer, purchase and sale contract, inspections, down payments and closing. This chapter was worth the price of the book to me.

12. Shopping for a Mortgage

Pros and cons of ARM's and other nonstandard mortgages, points, and desirable characteristics in lenders.

13. The Application Process

Credit reports, appraisals, title searches, the long wait for the approval. How many to apply for.

14. Closing

How much it will cost. The closing process and how to deal with things that go wrong.

15. Living Happily ever after

Sensible advice about mortgage payments, renovations, furnishing, refinancing and maintenance.

16. Debt and Taxes

The tax deduction on mortgages. What records you need to keep for the tax man.

As the list of chapters might imply, this is a very thoughtfully organized and written book. Easily 5 stars!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Basic, solid advice, hopelessly out-of-date, May 26, 2000

By	P. K. Stone (Avon Lake, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

As this book was last updated in 1990, none of the comments on closing, inspection and repair costs have any meaning. About half of what I read could be put to use today - not a waste of time, but I would look for something published in the last year or two.

4.0 out of 5 stars A great book, albeit a bit out-of-date, April 18, 2000

By A Customer

This is a great overview to home buying. Beware some of the tax-related info is out -of-date -- namely the information about capital gains. Other than that this is the best introduction I've seen. I highly recommend it.