Home Buying Kit For Dummies. Eric Tyson
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Where to Go from Here
Odds are you’re not quite ready to bolt over to the nearest bank and take out a mortgage — and we don’t suggest that you blindly call the first Realtor you find online. It’s up to you where you go from here, but if you’re just beginning to think about buying your first home, we recommend that you read this book straight through, cover to cover, to maximize your home-buying savvy. But the A-to-Z approach isn’t necessary — if you feel pretty confident in your knowledge of certain areas, pick other ones that you’re most interested in by either skimming this book’s table of contents or by relying on the well-crafted index at the back of the book.
Part 1
Getting Started with Buying a Home
IN THIS PART …
Compare the pros and cons as well as the economics of renting versus buying and owning your own home.
Get your personal finances in order before buying.
Determine how much you can afford to spend on a home.
Understand the drivers of home prices in your local market.
Chapter 1
Deciding Whether to Buy
IN THIS CHAPTER
Every month, week, and day, we buy things large and small: lunch, a new pair of shoes, and every now and then, a car.
Most people buy things without doing much comparison shopping, but instead draw upon their past experiences. When the counter help at the nearby coffeehouse is friendly and you like the brew, you go back for more.
Sometimes purchases lead you by association to related purchases. You get a pet cat or dog, for instance, and buying a collar and pet toys may naturally follow. By the same token, you buy a home, and before long you have a new sofa and dining table.
You end up being really happy with some items you purchase. Others fall short of your expectations … or worse. When the items in question don’t cost you much, it’s no big deal. Perhaps you return them or simply don’t buy more in the future. But when it comes to buying a home, that kind of sloppy shopping can lead to financial and emotional disaster.
If you’re not