Home Buying Articles
 
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  Don't Buy a Car - or Did You Already Buy One?
  When Income Grows and You Want to Buy "Stuff"
  Debt-to-Income Ratios and Car Payments
  How Buying a Car Reduces Your Purchase Price
  Things Not To Do Before Buying a Home
  No Major Purchases of Any Kind
  Don't Move Money Around
  Should You Change Jobs?

Reasons to Delay Buying a Home
  Why Buying a Home is a Good Idea
  The Best Investment
  Income Tax Savings
  Stable Monthly Housing Costs
  Forced Savings
  Freedom and Individuality
  The Business Cycle and Buying a Home
  Recession and Expansion
  Supply and Demand
  Should You Try to "Time the Market"?
  Why You Should Not Wait

What's More important -  Buying a House?  Or a Home?
  Why Search for A Realtor?
  Finding an Agent by "Accident"
  Listing Agents vs. Selling (Buyer's) Agents
  Should You Call the Listing Agent?
  Agent's Advertising - Is the Purpose What You Think?
  Finding Your Own Realtor
  Some Basics About the Search
  How to Conduct the Search
  Interviewing A Good Realtor
  When the Agent Asks You for an Appointment

Looking Ahead - Buyer's Remorse
  Buying a Home With Resale Value - Location
  Location, Location, Location?
  Location - Local Community, Town or City
  Location - the Local Neighborhood
  Location - the Residential Neighborhood
  Buying a Home With Resale Value - the House
  A Home With a View?
  Lot Choice and Landscaping
  House Size
  Bedrooms & Bathrooms
  Closets, Garage & Laundry
  Kitchen
  Fireplaces
  Swimming Pool?
  Comparable Sales and Your Offer Price
  Determining Your Offer Price
  Comparable Sales in the Public Record
  Comparable Sales in the Multiple Listing Service
  Comparable Sales - Pending Transactions
  Factors Affecting Your Offer Price
  How Property Condition Affects Your Offer
  How Home Improvements Affect Your Offer
  How Market Conditions Affect Your Offer
  How Seller Motivation Affects Your Offer
  The Final Decision on Your Offer Price
  Offering to Purchase Real Estate- the Basics
  Introduction and Overview
  Contingencies in a Purchase Offer
  Earnest Money Deposit
  The Closing Date
  Transfer of Possession
  Writing an Offer - Safeguards Regarding the Property
  Disclosures From the Seller
  Condition of the Property Upon Transfer
  Inspections You May Require
  Final Walk-Through Inspection
  How Financing Details Affect Your Offer
  Down Payment
  Interest Rate
  Closing Costs and Financing Incentives
  Seller Financing
  Cash Offers
  How FHA and VA Financing Affects Your Offer
  Extra Costs for the Seller
  More Detailed (and expensive) Appraisals
  You and the Seller Must Agree on Some Services
  Settlement and Escrow
  Title Insurance Companies
  Termite and Pest Inspections
  Buyer's Remorse- Did You Make a Huge Mistake?