In real estate, it's a buyer's market—and here is the buyer's bible . . . Buying a home is the single most important financial move in most people's lives. This book covers a variety of topics including inspecting, evaluating, negotiating, financing, contracts, and legal issues. It also breaks down the roles of the key players and what these professionals, agents, brokers, and inspectors are responsible for—and when to go it alone. The thorough advice, covering everything from buying houses at auctions to what neighborhood to live in, will provide reassurance for every soon–to–be homeowner. • A necessary tool for those who plan to buy homes and even current homeowners in order to keep up with an ever changing market • Will be published in time for spring, when most people start looking into buying new homes • Covers a broad range of buying options and homeowner's needs
Whether you?re a first-time real estate investor or a seasoned professional, The Complete Guide to Buying and Selling Apartment Buildings helps you map out your future, find apartment buildings at a fair price, finance purchases, and manage your properties. Now revised and expanded, this Second Edition includes tax planning advice, case studies of real acquisitions, and appendixes that add detail to the big picture. Plus, it includes a handy glossary of all the terms investors need to know, helpful sample forms that make paperwork quick and easy, and updated real estate forecasts. With this comprehensive guide at hand you?ll find profits easy to come by.
It is the best time in ages to buy a home in Spain, and bargain hunters are doing just that. You may wish to join them, but need to make your way through the property maze with as few problems as possible and without overpaying for lawyers, estate agents and other useful advisers. Anthony Foster is just the person to lead you through the maze. He has lived and worked in Spain in property since 1981, helping thousands to buy with minimum fuss and cost. This 10th edition of his popular guide, first published in 1994, provides unrivalled detail as he draws on up-to-date examples from his own experience to reveal what all the paper work and extras - property taxes, electricity and water, wills, mortgages etc - will likely cost. It includes tax and legal changes made so far for 2012 and 2013 by the new Spanish government that was elected to power in November 2011. This guide gives you just what you need to budget as accurately as possible and to understand what your advisers are doing. It even goes into insurance, buying a vehicle, parking without getting towed away, choosing the right people to rent out your property if you wish, and other invaluable insights. Years of insight and experience have gone into it. Buy this book and discover why Anthony Foster has appeared on British TV programmes such as BBC's Working Lunch and Channel 5's Hot Property as the buyer's best friend and the cowboy property developer's worst enemy. Whether you just need the basics or want in-depth information, this is very probably the guide of choice for you. It even offers an 'after sales'service by providing contact details for any questions about what you read.
The book covers property selection, tenant selection, inspecting premises, marketing and advertising of property, showing the property, tenant application, credit verification, employment and income verification, reference verification, lease agreement, deposits, walkthrough with tenant, collection of rent, late notices and collecting fees, statements, owner's proceeds, tenant complaints and requests, repairs, use of contractors, compliance with state and local regulation, property inspection after tenant leaves, deposit refund, accounting and computer software, income and expense, depreciation, a special section on using computers and the Internet, landlord tenant laws for all 50 states, federal housing regulations and disclosure information, legal issues, real estate terminology, techniques, advice, real estate management tools and software. Includes over 25 forms for use in the business.
WHAT TO CONSIDER IN THE HOMEBUYING PROCESS • Be Mindful of Your Credit Profile • Don’t try to Time the Market • Research the Neighborhood • Think Long-Term & Think Re-Sale • Look at all your Expenses • Look beyond Staging • Never Buy the most Expensive home on the Block • Type of Home You Want to Buy • Rank Specific Features You’re Looking For • Size of Mortgage You Qualify for • Mortgage Process • Estimate Budget • Obtain Pre-Approval Letter for a Loan • Choose a Mortgage Type • Complete Mortgage Application • Conduct Current Home Appraisal • Mortgage Process and Underwriting THE BUYING PROCESS-WHAT DOES IT INCLUDE? • Finding a Home • Considering Financing Options • What type of Mortgage is right for me? • Making an Offer • Multiple Offers • Obtaining Home Inspection • What home inspectors cover in your Home Inspection? • Title Insurance • Who pays for what? Seller/Buyer Responsibilities • 30 Day Escrow - Timeline HOW DOES A REAL ESTATE AGENT HELP YOU BUY? • The Homebuying Process is Time-consuming • You Have Limited Access to Online Listings • Understanding the Market is Difficult • Look for Experienced Agent • Uses the Right Tools • Is Visible in the Real Estate Community • Uses Unique Value Proposition to Show the Best Homes • Communicates with the Sellers Agent • Monitors Your Mortgage Commitment • Helps You Find a Home • Determines the Right Locations • Negotiates Offers • Market Conditions • Finances/ Timeline of the Buyers • Negotiates the Price • Inspects the Home • Negotiates within Reason • Negotiate Home Inspection Repairs • Makes Closing Process Smooth • Arrange Final Walkthrough • Walk-through, • Close of Escrow, Keys • Congratulations! • Santa Cruz County Statistics/Absorption rate • Checklists/Worksheet
The experts at "Money" magazine offer sound advice on everything involved in buying a house, condo, or co-op in this clear, concise guide. This book helps consumers construct a winning game plan when purchasing a home that's also a financial investment.
America is in the midst of the greatest real estate buyer's market in history. Yet, many home buyers get taken advantage of every day by unscrupulous sellers, real estate agents and mortgage lenders. This book is your defense against those "wolves in sheep's clothing." Nothing is more powerful an educated buyer. With the knowledge gained from this book, anyone can become an expert home buyer - not matter if this is their first or thirty-first house purchase. How to Buy a House the Right Way is a complete home buying guide for both first-time home buyers and those who have bought several homes. Mark Kennedy, a 20-year real estate and mortgage industry veteran, shares all of his tips, tactics and secrets for making the home buying process both smooth and enjoyable. After all, buying a new house is supposed to be fun! Mr. Kennedy discusses all aspects of home buying, from the mortgage process to finding and buying the right home. This book, updated in 2012 for today's real estate and mortgage market, includes great information, such as: everything you need for a successful mortgage transaction (including what not to do); how you can still buy homes for as little as $100 down; how to shop for your home the right way; home buyer traps to avoid; and much more. He even shares the secret tricks and scams that mortgage lenders have used for years to steal money and profits from unsuspecting buyers. This book can save you time, money and frustration in your next home purchase. Don't allow yourself to be an uneducated buyer. This book is the second printing of How to Buy a House the Right Way and is part of Mark Kennedy's Smart Living series, which also includes The Credit Repair Black Book - Credit Repair Secrets and Strategies the Credit Bureaus Won't Tell You (available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle versions).
A PAPERBACK ORIGINAL The first simple guide to understanding the real estate closing process Closing and escrow are among the most importantand least understoodcomponents of a real estate transaction. The Complete Guide to Your Real Estate Closing takes the mystery out of the confusing, expensive process by giving real estate professionals, investors, and consumers a step-by-step explanation. In simple, everyday language, the book explains closing documents and paperwork, what to do when something goes wrong, mortgage options, how to save money on title insurance, problems that can occur on a title report, and much more. With sample forms, work sheets, and more, this sophisticated but accessible book covers: Insider tips on how to save moneyfrom a closing professional Who does what: the real estate agent, lender, title company, closing officer, attorney State-specific information for all 50 states
Did you know that over 50% of mortgages don't close? Do you know how much home you can buy? Do you know how much paperwork in involved? Most people don't know how much home purchasing power they have, how much to expect for closing costs (varies by state), or how much paperwork is involved when applying for a home loan. Most people have no idea the difference between loan programs from bank to bank, lender to lender, or broker to broker- or what the differences are between the main types of residential mortgage providers. Most people have no criteria for choosing a lender, the type of loan to seek, or how much down payment is best for them. For example, are there differences between the types of property that may affect down payment? The mortgage industry is packed with nuance, which can lead to confusion for the consumer. While trying to buy a home, you may have people from many different professions telling you what you should do and how to make decisions-who should you listen to in which situations? Your most personal financial information is critical to the mortgage process and yet do you know who you are sending it to? What about mortgage insurance? Why is it required and when? The two questions I most often hear are: "What's the payment?" and, "What's the interest rate?" While these questions are important, there are several other questions that are just as critical: what is the right loan type for me; is there an up-front funding fee for this loan; what are the differences in available mortgage insurance; how will property type restrictions affect my loan; what are the pros and cons of this loan; what is the down payment requirement with this loan choice over another; what are the closing costs associated with each loan type; and, who is allowed to pay the closing costs? Successfully navigating the maze of questions, regulations, and requirements ultimately leads to a mortgage closing. Through over ten years of experience, thousands of clients, hundreds of Realtor and builder transactions (time line constraint purchases), and, as a licensed loan originator in 9 states and the District of Columbia, I have developed a wealth of knowledge about regulations and requirements. My commitment to client service and caring about their home buying experience has driven my passion for the individual personal experience in the mortgage industry and how the regulations and requirements affect real people in real time. With this book I'm privileged and excited to share my knowledge and experience with you. After reading this book, you will have an understanding of the big corporations that loan money to homebuyers, what other options you have and how to navigate government regulations and requirements to your advantage. I feel that an educated consumer is my best customer and I am happy to share these mortgage tools and tips with you in the hopes that you educate yourself and find the best mortgage and the mortgage professional that is right for you. In addition, I want you to know what to expect, what to ask, and, who to ask to get the answers you want and to understand what those answers really mean. With each chapter I will guide you through the mortgage process, from choosing between different loan types, to understanding the difference between a Good Faith Estimate and an Itemized Fee Worksheet, to the necessity of submitting certain documents in a particular method, and finally how to enter Closing Day stress-free and knowing that you have gotten the mortgage that makes the most financial sense for your future. The goal is to help you get the best mortgage possible for your individual needs and get to closing on time, stress free!
