Home Buying Kit For Dummies. Eric Tyson

Introduction

      Welcome to Home Buying Kit For Dummies, 7th Edition!

      For about the cost of a couple of movie tickets or your monthly Netflix subscription, you can quickly and easily discover how to save thousands — perhaps even tens of thousands — of dollars the next time you buy a home.

      How can we make such a claim? Simple. Each of us has spent decades personally advising thousands of people like you about home purchases and other important financial decisions. We’ve seen how ignorance of basic concepts and practices translates into money-draining mistakes. And we know that many of these mistakes are both needless and avoidable.

      

No one is born knowing how to buy a home. Everyone who’d like to buy a home must learn how to do it. Unfortunately, too many people get a crash course in the school of hard knocks — and learn by making costly mistakes at their own expense.

      We know you’re not a dummy. You’ve already demonstrated an interest in discovering more about home buying by selecting this book, which can help you make smart moves and avoid financial land mines.

      In the event that you’re still wondering whether to buy this book, consider that buying a home may well be the largest purchase that you ever make. Buying a home can send shock waves through your personal finances and may even cause a sleepless night or two. Purchasing a home is a major financial step and a life event for most people. It certainly was for us when we bought our first homes. You owe it to yourself to do things right.

About This Book: The Eric Tyson/Ray Brown Difference

      We know that many home-buying books are competing for your attention. Here are several other compelling reasons why this is the best book for you:

       It’s in plain English. Because we work with real people and answer real questions, our information is current, and we have a great deal of experience in explaining things. This experience can put you firmly in control of the home-buying process (rather than having it control you).

       It’s objective. We’re not trying to sell you an expensive newsletter, seminar, or some real estate product you don’t need. Our goal is to make you as knowledgeable as possible before you purchase a home. We even explain why you may not want to buy a home. We’re not here to be real estate cheerleaders.

       It’s holistic. When you purchase a home, that purchase affects your ability to save money and accomplish other important financial goals. We help you understand how best to fit your home acquisition into the rest of your personal-finance plan.

       It’s a reference. You can read this book from cover to cover if you want. However, we know you’re busy and you likely don’t desire to become a real estate expert, so each portion of the book stands on its own. You can read it piecemeal to address your specific questions and immediate concerns.

Icons Used in This Book

      Sprinkled throughout this book are cute little icons to help reinforce and draw attention to key points or to flag stuff that you can skip.

      

This bull’s-eye notes key strategies that can improve your real estate deal and, in some cases, save you lots of moola. Think of these as helpful little paternalistic hints we would whisper in your ear if we were close enough to do so!

      

Numerous land mines await novice as well as experienced home buyers. This explosive symbol marks those mines, and then we tell you how to sidestep them.

Occasionally, we suggest that you do more research or homework. Don’t worry: We tell you exactly what you need to do.

      

“If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a thousand times… .” Remember good old Mom and Dad? From time to time, we tell you something quite important and perhaps repeat ourselves. Just so you don’t forget the point, this icon serves as a little nag to bring back those childhood memories.

       Some of you are curious and have time to spare. Others are busy and just want to know the essentials. This geeky icon points out tidbits and information that you don’t really have to know, but understanding this stuff can make you more self-confident and proud!

       Want to calculate your monthly expenses? Or have a handy-dandy list available when you interview Realtors and home inspectors? Wanna see what your bank may include on a mortgage application? These along with lots of other important stuff can be found online at www.dummies.com/go/homebuyingkit7e.

Beyond the Book

      In addition to the material in the print or e-book you’re reading right now, this product also comes with some access-anywhere goodies on the web. Check out the free Cheat Sheet at www.dummies.com/cheatsheet/homebuyingkit for 20 home-buying tips and a monthly mortgage payment calculator.

      Also, go online to www.dummies.com/go/homebuyingkit7e to access the “kit” part of this book. You’ll find a variety of useful forms, including many of the lists and applications that we show in the book. You can print out the application forms and fill them in, just to ensure you have all the information you need. And you can also print out the lists of questions for potential Realtors and property inspectors so you’re prepared when interviewing them.

      Here’s a list of what you’ll find at www.dummies.com/go/homebuyingkit7e:

Table 1-1	Figuring future rent
Table 2-1	Your spending, now and after purchasing a home
Table 3-1	Monthly mortgage payment calculator
Chapter 3	Estimated homeownership expenses
Chapter 3	1040 Schedule A
Chapter 7	Request for Copy of Tax Return (Form 4506)
Chapter 7	Tax Information Authorization