Title Details

Why Do You Need This Book?

How to Use This Book.

Chapter 1: Heads You Buy, Tails You Don’t: Making the Decision.

All the Reasons to Buy a Home.

A home is a great investment.

Interest rates are low.

You’re not a victim of rent inflation.

Timing Is Everything.

Chapter 2: So You Want to Buy a Home: How Do You Begin?

Looking at Your Housing Options.

Single-family homes.

Condominiums.

Cooperatives.

Townhouses.

Multiple-family homes.

Buying a Home Is a Team Effort.

Realtors.

Lenders and mortgage brokers.

Home inspectors.

Insurance companies.

Lawyers.

Chapter 3: What Do You Want In a Home?

Finding Your Dream Home: A Self-Study.

What do you see when you close your eyes?

How much can you afford?

How long will you live there?

Finding Your Dream Home: Where?

Proximity to schools and services.

Proximity to work.

Orientation, view, and streetscapes.

Traffic.

Finding Your Dream Home: What Type of House?

Style and structure.

Age.

Condition.

Size of house and number of rooms.

Features and amenities.

Bedrooms.

Bathrooms.

Kitchen.

Layout and flow.

Garages: parking and storage.

Intangibles.

Chapter 4: Condos, Co-ops, and New Homes.

Condos.

Advantages of condos.

Disadvantages of condos.

Co-ops.

Advantages of co-ops.

Disadvantages of co-ops.

Brand New Homes.

You build it yourself.

You hire a general contractor.

You buy from a developer.

Advantages of brand new homes.

Disadvantages of brand new homes.

Chapter 5: How Much Can You Afford?

Would You Lend Money to This Person?

Creditworthiness.

Good credit.

No credit.

The Down Payment.

How much down do I pay?

Where can I get a down payment?

It’s All Up to the Lender.

Chapter 6: Hunting for Your Home.

Knowing Your Realtors.

The buyer’s agent.

The dual agent.

Finding the Right Agent for You.

Ask your family and friends.

Scout "For Sale" signs.

Go to open houses.

Walk into a local brokerage.

Search the Net.

Work with two or more agents.

Meet with agents.

Viewing the Listings.

Using the MLS — the Realtor's Bible.

Using the Internet.

Viewing Prospective Houses.

Buying a House for Sale by the Owner.

Choosing the Right House for You.

Chapter 7: Checking Out the House You Want.

Don’t Buy a House Sight Unseen.

Your initial walk-through.

Your second viewing.

The Professional Inspection.

Structure.

Electrical.

Heating and air conditioning.

Plumbing.

Interior.

Kitchen.

Exterior.

Pest inspection.

Chapter 8: The Business of Buying a Home.

Bidding on a House.

Doing your homework.

Trusting your Realtor (and yourself).

Counter-offers and Counter-Counter-offers.

Lowballing.

Conditions.

Getting What You Pay For.

Fixtures and appliances.

Plantings.

Holes and damage to walls.

Repairs and cleaning.

Homeowner warranties.

Chapter 9: Selecting a Mortgage.

All about Mortgages.

Where to get a mortgage.

Sources of mortgages.

Finding a lender.

Using the Internet.

Choosing the Right Mortgage.

Interest rates.

Closed versus open mortgages.

The length of the loan.

Other fees.

Chapter 10: Making It Yours.

The Offer to Purchase.

Ownership.

Joint tenancy.

Tenancy in common.

The Closing.

The survey.

The title search.

The statement of adjustment.

The big cheque.

And Finally, It's Yours.

Final Review.

Q&A.

Scenario.

Answers.

Resource Centre.

Internet.