Your One-Stop-Shop in the Home Buying Process
What Every Homeowner Needs to Know Before They Sign on the Dotted Line
Thinking about buying a home? The dream of home ownership has become a reality for millions of people in the last few years.
With this book in hand, now it can be yours too.

What's Your Rate? How to Buy a Home and Secure Your Financial Future at the Same Time offers a unique perspective into the process of buying a home. At the same time, it helps you to formulate a financial plan and put together your financial team. Don't neglect to consider your insurance needs, investment strategies, college funding, estate planning or passing on a legacy. These critical factors are often overlooked while transacting what is, for most people, the single largest purchase they'll ever make--their home.
This definitive guide is unique in that all of the home buying and financial planning information is related through a compelling narrative centered on a young family--a family probably a lot like yours. They have grown out of their apartment and they are expecting a third child. When a suggestion from a trusted friend is followed--after a discouraging beginning into the home buying process--an all-encompassing plan soon unfolds.
Learn how to assemble your team of trusted advisors and put together a comprehensive plan for the future. This is a must read for anyone considering buying a home, and for the Core-7 business professional looking to create a system to help in that endeavor.

The definitive guide to understanding the real estate escrow process
Selling a home or purchasing a new one? - How can you prepare yourself?

Navigating an "escrow" is an art, but there are times it feels like an uphill battle ending in an all out WAR. Learn what you can do to make the process less stressful. Just as important, find out what you should not do, so as to avoid the pitfalls. "The Art of Escrow "provides an easy to understand, step-by-step process, so that you can achieve the American dream of home ownership while staying in control At last The escrow process has been de-mystified. Find out how to simplify your dreams, today.

A collection of refreshingly honest and hilarious essays from Southern Living columnist Elizabeth Passarella about navigating change--whether emotional or logistical--and staying sane during life's unexpected twists and turns. After Elizabeth Passarella and her husband finally decided that it was time to sell their two-bedroom apartment in Manhattan, she found herself wondering, Is there a proper technique for skinning a couch? The couch in question was a beloved hand-me-down from her father--who had recently passed away--and she was surprisingly reluctant to let the nine-foot, plaid, velour-covered piece of furniture go. So, out came the scissors. She kept the fabric and tossed the couch. We've all had to make decisions in our lives about what to keep and what to toss--habits, attitudes, friends, even homes. In this new collection of essays, Elizabeth explores the ups and downs of moving forward--both emotionally and logistically--with her welcome candor and sense of humor that readers have come to love. She enters into a remarkable (and strange) relationship with an elderly neighbor whose apartment she hopes to buy, examines her own stubborn stances on motherhood and therapy, and tries to come to terms with a family health crisis that brings more questions than answers. Along the way Elizabeth reminds readers that when they feel stuck or their load feels heavy, there is always light breaking in somewhere. It Was an Ugly Couch Anyway will make readers laugh, cry, and feel a little less alone as they navigate their own lives that are filled with uncertainty, change, and things beyond their control.

The way you live in a home and the way you sell it are two different things. That's the premise of Staging*, a concept that teaches you to look at your home through a buyer's eyes and make adjustments to improve its appeal and value.
In any real estate market, Staged homes sell faster or sell for more money--or both. With Home Staging, you'll learn how to play up your home's strong points and improve its presentation. By rearranging furniture, trimming overgrown bushes, painting a room, and clearing out the clutter, Home Staging will help you spotlight your property for a fast, profitable sale.
Filled with organizing tips and checklists, plus before-and-Staged photographs that dramatically show how Staging can transform your home inside and out, Home Staging has all the answers you'll need when looking to increase the sale price of your home.
*Staging is a federally registered trademark of StagedHomes.com

Probably the most famous book ever written on making money in real estate. William Nickerson and his book HOW I TURNED $1,000 INTO ONE MILLION IN REAL ESTATE IN MY SPARE TIME has probably created more millionaires than any other book in investing history. It simply is a masterpiece of common sense advice.

You'll learn:

-- How to shape logs, make corner joints, erect walls, fit joists, add decks and porches, and much more.

-- How manufacturers' kit homes differ, illustrated by many photographs and detailed drawings.

-- How to pick the best site for a house and plan your foundation, driveway and landscaping.

-- What the manufacturer of a kit log house can do for you -- and how to be sure you get what you want.

-- The secrets of how to save the most on building your log home -- what you can do best yourself and when to get professional help.

-- Tools you'll need and ways to simplify hard jobs like raising logs and planning for chimneys.

This is the basic book for the log house builder, with those special tips that come only with much experience.

Find Success in the Real Estate Market "Tracy has nailed all the critical check-offs for successful buying or selling. It's a game changer for our industry." -Mauricio Umansky, founder/CEO of The Agency #1 Bestseller in Moving & Relocation Top residential real estate agent Tracy McLaughlin reveals how buyers and sellers can get the best price possible-by understanding how the real estate market really works. Buying and selling houses. Because most people only enter the real estate market once a decade or less, few really know how it works. The housing market elicits a lot of emotions, from excitement to anxiety. Oftentimes, this blinds us to the realities of how the market actually works. Tracy McLaughlin is here to help. From those buying their first home to sellers with some experience, this book is packed with essential advice. A roadmap for buyers and sellers. In nearly all real estate sales, buyers and sellers leave behind thousands or even hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars on the table. As frightening as this reality is, it continually happens because one simple decision, among the countless made during the entire process, can greatly impact the outcome of the transaction. Bridging the gap between information and expertise. Buyers and sellers have greater access to information and even the ability to direct the sales process, but most people still lack a key aspect: expertise. By presenting an inside view on sales, McLaughlin provides a guide for optimizing the sale and purchase of homes. Inside find: Detailed guidelines for how to save money and make money Advice for finding the right real estate agent The real estate for dummies book every home buyer or seller needs If you've looked for guidance in books such as Dream Home, Nolo's Essential Guide to Buying Your First Home, or Home Buying Kit For Dummies, then you'll find more of what you're looking for in Real Estate Rescue by Tracy McLaughlin.

* Choose, manage, and pay off your mortgage * Match your mortgage to your financial goals * Qualify for a mortgage even when money is tight Quickly make sense of mortgages Taking out a mortgage to purchase real estate is a huge decision, one that could affect your family's finances for years to come. This easy-to-follow guide explains how to secure the best and lowest-cost mortgage for your unique situation. Whether you select a 15- or 30-year mortgage, you'll get all the tips and tricks you need to pay it off faster shortening your payment schedule and saving your hard-earned cash. Inside * Fine-tune your finances * Qualify for a mortgage * Secure the best loan * Find your best lender * Refinance your mortgage * Pay down your loan quicker * Must-knows about foreclosure * Top mortgage no-nos

In Foreclosed, Christopher K. Odinet gives voice to the stories of homeowners that have been neglected, particularly those facing foreclosure and deep financial distress. The book reveals the powerful and often invisible mortgage servicing industry, the tremendous discretionary power it wields over the housing lives of most Americans, and the servicing problems that still persist today. In doing so, it unveils a quiet and dangerous market shift in mortgage servicing - namely, an ongoing move toward a shadow banking sector where regulation is weak - that threatens the stability of our housing finance system. Ultimately, the book demonstrates how the law does not afford homeowners the protection most think and how regulation of these mortgage middlemen remains weak. Foreclosed should be read by anyone concerned with the state of housing and home ownership in the United States.

In Foreclosed, Christopher K. Odinet gives voice to the stories of homeowners that have been neglected, particularly those facing foreclosure and deep financial distress. The book reveals the powerful and often invisible mortgage servicing industry, the tremendous discretionary power it wields over the housing lives of most Americans, and the servicing problems that still persist today. In doing so, it unveils a quiet and dangerous market shift in mortgage servicing - namely, an ongoing move toward a shadow banking sector where regulation is weak - that threatens the stability of our housing finance system. Ultimately, the book demonstrates how the law does not afford homeowners the protection most think and how regulation of these mortgage middlemen remains weak. Foreclosed should be read by anyone concerned with the state of housing and home ownership in the United States.

FIGHT BACK!

With a Take-Charge Strategy for At-Risk Homeowners

Millions of homeowners are at risk of losing their homes. Are you one of them? If so, you need this practical, step-by-step guide to help you take action before it's too late.

In Fight Foreclosure!, David Petrovich offers honest advice on all of your options, weighs the pros and cons of each, and shares smart, practical strategies for lowering your payments and keeping your home. He points out the too-good-to-be-true foreclosure rescue offers you should avoid, and offers real alternatives that work--now!

Petrovich is a mortgage banking insider who understands the loan servicing industry inside and out. And he understands the pressure you're under. Don't worry! You're not alone. Inside, you'll find the calm, professional advice you need to manage your financial crisis, including topics such as:

The foreclosure time-clock--why acting early is critical

Handling collection calls

Cutting expenses and rebuilding your budget

Negotiating with your lender

Utilizing all your legal defenses

Using bankruptcy to save your home

Selling your home to avoid foreclosure while saving your credit

Finding legitimate help and avoiding rescue scams

The UK Planning Regulations are a minefield for anyone looking to build a new home - and for those who are worried about the impact of a new planning application near their home. Avoid being one of the thousands whose application is turned down - and whose dreams are crushed - by using this book to familiaries yourself with the system and beat it. With a step-by-step guide to every part of the application process and ehaustive coverage of the do's and don'ts, this is an essential guide to securing that first step on the path to building your dream home. And if you're worried about a nearby development, there are easily implimented strategies for preventing planning permission from being granted. From one of the UK's leading planning consultancies, with the very latest on all the new and recent changes to planning law, this is the most comprehensive guide avaliable to manipulating the intricacies of this difficult and controversial area.

If you're renting out a spare room ths book will tell all about taking in a lodger, including how to advertise the room and then draw up the contract. It also explains the the tax and financial issues involved, and much more. For those looking for a flatshare you'll find out where to look, how to pick the best flatmates and then how to avoid conflict and keep your flatshare harmonious. If you are looking for a new flatmate, you'll discover how to advertise, what to look for to pick the right person and also everything you need to know about dealing with money.

For the property investor France has it all - a uniquely stable housing market, a vast long-term rental market and 70-80 million tourists a year looking for short term accommodation. But that is not all. Property prices and mortgage interest rates are much lower in France and UK Capital Gains tax on holiday lettings in France can be as low as 10%! Whether the aim is to buy a second home or build a property portfolio abroad, France has to be the number one choice. The product of 12 years experience in buying, managing and letting properties in France, this guide leaves nothing to chance. It covers: * Hotspot locations and property prices * Setting up and running a holiday letting business * Investing for profit in the long-term rental sector * Raising the finance to buy * Finding the property * The buying process from offer to completion * Buying off-plan and leaseback * Buying an apartment * Taxation - French and UK

The only guidebook that shows you how to finance any property--with or without bank approval
Would you like to discover all of the many ways that you can finance real estate? Want to learn how to cut your financing costs, avoid pitfalls, and negotiate the best terms? Then let Gary Eldred's 106 Mortgage Secrets All Borrowers Must Learn--But Lenders Don't Tell, Second Edition guide you. Fully updated, this practical guide explains how today's changing mortgage market really works. Unlike other mortgage guides, this book goes beyond traditional bank-originated loans and shows you how to benefit with seller financing, assumables, subject-to, wraparounds, lease options, foreclosures, and other money-saving possibilities.
106 Mortgage Secrets also protects you from the sharp practices of loan reps that have recently sparked Congressional hearings and multiple state investigations. In addition, Eldred shows how and why the right financing decisions can add tens (and sometimes hundreds) of thousands of dollars to your long-term net worth. With these 106 secrets, you'll build the confidence and the knowledge to:
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Increase your borrowing power
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Obtain the lowest interest rate
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Understand the true pros and cons of ARMs
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Cut (or eliminate) the cost of mortgage insurance
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Save big with seller financing, assumptions, foreclosures, and REOs
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Strengthen your credit profile and credit score
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Avoid getting taken... by the fine print and garbage fees
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Steer clear of scams and unprincipled loan reps and lenders
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Accumulate wealth through homeownership and investment properties

Simple, concise, and comprehensive, this book reveals everything property buyers need to know--especially the 106 financing secrets lenders too often omit.

Real estate agents and other investors who need money to close their purchases often use private lending as their main source for funding. Unfortunately, many private lenders take advantage of this. They use unethical and illegal tactics to persuade investors to pay fees to obtain loans. For this reason, investors need guidance from an expert who knows the language and the processes these imposters use. Truth in Private Lending gives detailed accounts of how private lending scammers typically operate, and advice on how to keep them from getting your money.