"A Survival Guide for Buying a Home" by Sid Davis

Buying a home is a complex process that involves a delicate balance of financial, emotional, and practical factors. This essential resource helps readers come out on top, revealing the best strategies for finding and buying a new home — while saving money every step of the way.



Whether looking for a house, condo, co-op, or manufactured home, readers will learn how to: • Hire the right agent • determine financial limits • develop relationships with banks and other potential lenders • evaluate communities • get prequalified or preapproved for a mortgage • negotiate the best price and terms and more. There's also a checklist of the 15 costliest mistakes homebuyers make — and how to avoid every one of them — plus crucial information on how to sell a home.

Contents
Preface
Introduction
Chapter 1. First Steps to Becoming a Homeowner
Chapter 2. Mortgage Loans 101
Chapter 3. Finding and Working with a Mortgage Lender
Chapter 4. Once You’re Prequalified, It’s Shopping Time
Chapter 5. Getting the Best Deal
Chapter 6. Buying Condos, Co-ops, and Other Options
Chapter 7. Insurance Matters for Homeowners
Chapter 8. Tax Aspects of Buying and Owning a Home
Chapter 9. Selling Your Home and Moving
Chapter 10. Buying a Manufactured, Modular, or Mobile Home
Chapter 11. How to Avoid the Fifteen Costliest Mistakes Homebuyers Make
-1. Not Planning Your Move
-2. Buying a Home Before You’ve Sold Your Current One
-3. Not Getting a Preapproval Letter
-4. Not Having an Exit Strategy
-5. Not Checking Out the Neighborhood
-6. Buying the Wrong Type of House
-7. Buying a Home on Impulse .
-8. Buying a Property That’s Hard to Sell
-9. Overextending Your Budget
-10. Not Protecting Yourself When You Make an Offer
-11. Getting Family, Relatives, and Friends Too Involved
-12. Not Being Able to Make a Decision .
-13. Not Getting a Buyer’s Broker Early On
-14. Not Getting a Professional Home Inspection
-15. Not Checking Out the Homeowners Association First
Appendix A. Shopping Comparison Checklist
Appendix B. Step-by-Step Checklist to Owning Your Dream Home
Appendix C. Step-by-Step Checklist to Buying a Condo or Co-op
Appendix D: Checklist of What Your Mortgage Lender Needs to Get Started
Glossary
List of Additional Resources
Index