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Buying a Home: The Missing Manual | ||
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By Nancy Conner |
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Missing CD-ROM
Part 1: Preparing for Home Ownership
Chapter 1. The Benefits and Drawbacks of Home Ownership
Mortgage calculator to estimate PITI payments:
Info on the national Flood Insurance Program:
Chapter 2. How Much Home Can You Afford?
Free online money-management tools:
Download free household budget templates:
Track your spending with a free budget planner spreadsheet:
Get an idea of how much you can afford to borrow:
Order your free credit report online:
Order your free credit report by phone:
- 1-877-322-8228
To request your free annual credit report in writing, use the form here:
- https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/requestformfinal.pdf
- Print, complete, and mail it to Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.
Videos on how to improve your FICO score:
Part 2: Finding Your Home
Chapter 3: Choose Your Style of Home and Neighborhood
Read about manufactured home federal government's manufactured home standards:
Check out neighborhood school districts:
Review neighborhood demographics:
Download your home Wish List form:
Download a form to list things you don't want in a home:
Set your home priorities:
Chapter 4: Assemble Your Real Estate Team
Reviews of local real estate agents:
State disciplinary agencies for real estate agents:
Chapter 5: Shop for Your Home
Online real estate agencies:
National real estate agencies:
Find listing agents and "For Sale By Owner" sellers:
Determine home comparable values:
Find foreclosures:
Find government-seized properties for sale:
- Department of the Treasury
- Fannie Mae (Federal National Mortgage Association)
- HUD (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development)
- RealtyTrac (subscription-based service)
Bid online for foreclosed (and other) properties:
Auctions of bank-owned (REOs) and other properties:
Find out whether a former owner has a state-granted right to buy back a foreclosed house:
Review the federal lead disclosure form:
Review the Indiana seller disclosure form:
Review the Texas seller disclosure form:
Part 3: Financing Your Home
Chapter 6. Finance Your Down Payment
Learn about investment-grade bonds:
Find the limit on FHA loans in your area:
Chapter 7: Compare Mortgages and Other Financing Option
Try a simple-to-use amortization calculator:
Figure out your ARM mortgage with this ARM calculator:
Track the major indexes that the banking industry uses:
Determine monthly principal and interest mortgage payments:
Find out what the FHA-insured loan cap is for your area:
Find lenders that handle FHA-insured loans:
Locate FHA-approved lenders in your area:
See if you qualify for a VA home loan:
Find a local public housing authority home-buying assistance program:
Search for government programs that offer assistance with housing (go to "Quick Benefits", then click "Housing"):
Chapter 8: Choose and Apply for a Mortgage
Check a lender's track record with federal agencies:
- Federal Trade Commission
- Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (search for federally insured lenders)
- National Credit Union Administration
Check for complaints about online lenders at these consumer review sites:
Longtime online lenders:
Find local lenders:
Find a mortgage broker:
Watch mortgage rates:
Get a sense of the highest your ARM payments could rise:
Read the Uniform Residential Loan application:
Review the terms of a Good Faith Estimate:
Chapter 9. Know Your Closing Costs
Use the California Land Title Association's free Title Wizard to compare title insurance companies and rates:
Find average closing costs by state:
Part 4: Negotiating the Deal
Chapter 10: Make an Offer
Estimate the value of neighboring homes and your target home for free:
Buy a report that estimates the value of neighboring homes and your target home:
Chapter 11: Prepare for the Closing
Learn about the federal government's National Flood Insurance Program and your flood risk:
Assess the chances that an earthquake will shake you up:
Check out earthquake maps:
Review home warranty assessments:
Find American Moving and Storage Association certified movers:
Read consumer reviews of movers:
Contact your local Better Business Bureau for complaints about a mover:
File a change of address form:
Get a copy of the final walkthrough checklist:
Chapter 12: Inspect the Property
Check your state's license requirements and regulations for home inspectors:
- American Association of Law Libraries (click the Libraries link)
Search for certified home inspectors:
See an example of a home inspection report:
Read state-by-state information about radon:
Find local home energy raters qualified to do a professional energy audit:
Chapter 13: Close the Deal
Check out what a HUD settlement form looks like:
