How to Buy & Sell Your Home Without Getting Ripped Off [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

~ (Author), Lonny Coffey (Author) "Welcome to the wonderful world of real estate!..." (more)
Key Phrases: unethical lenders, total house payment, par pricing, Fannie Mae, Home Keeper, Gross Income (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

When it comes to buying and selling a home-- one of the most valuable investments most families have-- it is easy to see the potential for rip-offs. After all, there are numerous steps to a transaction, and someone at any stage may be one of the "bad apples" that give real estate a bad name.

With more than 20 years experience in the real estate business, Patricia Boyd and Lonny Coffey have seen plenty of consumer problems, as homebuyers and sellers alike have been taken advantage of by unethical agents or lenders. According to the authors, the answer lies in educating the consumer as well as training for the professionals who serve them.

Boyd and Coffey show consumers, step-by-step, what should happen in a real estate transaction, and offer detailed insights on putting together the most ethical, effective team to make the transaction happen without surprises. They explain the role of each participant in the process, and what consumers should watch out for at each step. They outline all-important details on how to avoid foreclosure, as well as the range of options available to finance a real estate deal. With their finance expertise, Boyd and Coffey are able to point out financing alternatives for marginally qualified buyers, and the ins and outs of refinancing, which can comprise up to one third of the mortgage market.

Here are some ways to make a real estate transaction as rip-off-proof as possible:

* Identifying the five major players on the real estate team, and the relevant expertise a consumer should look for
* What are appropriate fees--and which ones are red flags
* When and how to refinance--or not
* How to avoid foreclosure
* Why consumers need to take charge, and how they can do it

From the Publisher

Rip-off-proof your next real estate transaction!

Buying a home is one of the biggest investments most families ever make, and buying and selling homes go hand-in-hand. Both types of real estate transactions involve multiple steps, leaving countless opportunities for consumers to get ripped off. Here's expert advice to ensure that you don't get taken advantage of in either the home buying or home selling process.

Speaking from years of experience in all aspects of real estate, Patricia Boyd and Lonny Coffey believe the key to avoid getting ripped off is educating consumers as well as training professionals. How to Buy & Sell Your Home without Getting Ripped Off! takes a giant step to do just that.

While explaining exactly what should take place in a real estate transaction, Boyd and Coffey offer tips to move the home buying and selling process along without surprises including:

* Identifying the five major players on your real estate team
* Noting their relevant expertise
* Flagging inappropriate fees
* Determining when refinancing is best for you

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 202 pages
• Publisher: Dearborn Financial Publishing; illustrated edition edition (April 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0793137063
• ISBN-13: 978-0793137060
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,059,842 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Literacy for Home Buying and Selling, May 25, 2000

By	Kaylene Smith (Bedford, Texas) - See all my reviews

A very easy to read and understand book full of knowledge and wisdom about the purchase that can and does create stress and confusion in most people's lives. Explains and demonstrates ways for consumers to save money that is generally "lost" in the process. I have bought and sold homes for a number of years and never knew some of the information that was explained in the book. The web site listings for the various subjects is an excellent resource. It is the best "how to" book for the largest purchase of most people's lives.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I LOVE THIS BOOK!, December 11, 2000

By	katherine Salant (Michigan) - See all my reviews

The mortgage maze can rapidly become confusing, especially if you are a first time buyer. This clearly written and informative book walks you through every step of the process, providing detailed information on the dizzying aray of loans that most lenders offer; more importantly, it tells you how to appraise each lender so that you reallly do get the best deal. In real estate and lending today, "caveat emptor"--let the buyer beware--is truer than ever, and books like this one are more needed than ever. Katherine Salant, Nationally syndicated real estate columnist for Inman News Features

4.0 out of 5 stars a tutorial about buying and selling your home, January 18, 2004

By	William D. Tompkins (New York, New York USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

a very tutorial about buying and selling your home. very well written in laymen's terms so that anyone can read it with interest