The Home Buying Process

The home buying process can have plenty of twists and turns, and that's perfectly normal. But no need to fear. Simply by understanding the process, you'll be able to handle anything that comes your way!

The Process of Buying a House
The process of buying a house has changed significantly over the last few years. In fact, when you compare the mortgage and house buying scene of the 1990's to today, you can see a stark difference. So let's examine the process through a modern lens to see what has changed.

A Beginner's Guide to Buying Real Estate
There's a lot of good information in this article. Yes, it's a long one. But if you can get through most of it, you'll be much better prepared for the process that awaits you.

Buying a First Home - A Tutorial
With this article, I've created a one-stop shop for anyone buying a first home. Call it my list of "required reading" for first-time home buyers.

How to Make a Real Estate Offer
So, you've found the house that's right for you, and you're ready to make an offer on the property. What next? In this article, you will learn six important steps to making an offer.

The Real Estate Purchase Agreement Explained
Often referred to as the "contract," the purchase agreement represents a key stage in the buying process. This is when you and the seller agree on the terms of the sale, to include the purchase price and escrow period.

How to Purchase Your First House
This two-part article will take you through the purchasing process in ten steps. Each step is clearly explained, to give you a better idea of what to expect along the way. This is excellent reading material for first-time buyers in particular. Part 1 | Part 2

Reducing Your Debt Before Buying
For many Americans, debt reduction is a critical first step in the path to homeownership. When you carry too much debt in relation to your income, you will have trouble getting a mortgage loan. The advice in this article will help.

How to Buy a Home - Because Apartment Life Sucks
Most people who live in apartments are shocked to find out that they can buy a home and pay roughly the same as their rent amount in a mortgage payment each month. Let me show you how this is possible, using an example from my own past experiences.

5 Most Common Questions Among Home Buyers
I thought it would be beneficial to home buyers everywhere if I selected five of the most common home-buying questions I receive, and explored them in an article such as this.

101 Steps to a Smoother Home-Buying Process
This article delivers on its title, offering an excellent overview of the entire home-buying process.

How Do Home Appraisals Work?
Question from a reader: "Do bank appraisers make an actual value appraisal, or do they appraise the home for slightly over the amount of your loan?" A good appraiser will always appraise a home for its true market value, which can be equal to, above or even below the asking and/or contract price.

Identity Theft Protection for Home Buyers
Every consumer should be proactive about identity theft protection and related actions. But home buyers in particular need to keep this subject in mind. Here are some tips to help you keep your identity safe when buying a new home.

10 Basic Steps to Buying a Home
This tutorial is designed to teach you about the various steps to buying a home. A "must read" for any first-time home buyer.

Top Home-Buying Questions
This article is an ongoing chronicle of our blog series listing the top home buying questions ... and our answers to those questions.

Home Buying Grants
Home buying grants are a popular subject among home buyers. And why wouldn't they be? The very word "grant" suggests free money, and any home buyer could use free money. But there's more to home buying grants than simply applying for the grant and getting the money.

Buying a Home at a Real Estate Auction
I probably don't need to tell you about the rise in home foreclosures that has taken place in recent months. But what you may not know is that many of the properties that get foreclosed upon end up being sold at real estate auctions for less than market value.

Buying a Home vs. Renting
One of the best ways to determine if you should rent or buy a home is to look at the pros and cons on each side of the issue.

The Home Buying Process: Your 14-Point Path to Success
Thinking about buying a new home buy not sure where to start? If so, this article is for you. A start-to-finish road map of the home buying process.

Home Buying for Single Moms
Many single moms have concerns and questions about buying a home. In this article, we provide a variety of resources to answer the home buying questions of single moms.

The Home Buying Process - What Steps to Take
This is a short explanation of the mortgage process and the steps one should take in order to guarantee a smooth transaction.

How to Evaluate a Seller's Asking Price
A seller's asking price doesn't always reflect the home's true value. You must evaluate the price in order to get the best deal.

How to Make an Offer
So you've weeded out all the "maybe" houses and found "the one." The next step is to make an offer. Here's how to do it the right way.

Buy a New Home Before Selling Your Old One
Home Owner Myth: I can't buy a "new" house without first selling my "old" one. Not so!

Home Buying Process - Pointers
Before you rush out to purchase a home, there are a few tips that might help you get a great deal on the home of your dreams.

Buying a Home: What Happens Next?
The offer on the home of your dreams has just been accepted. What happens now? This article outlines the steps in a typical transaction.

Basics of Home Buying
Before embarking on your journey of house hunting, you must know what you really want to find. Here are some things to consider.

5 Ground Rules for Home Buying Success
There are five basic ground rules you must know when it comes to buying a home and shopping smart, and they are...

The Home Buying Process For First Time Buyers
Here is a short list of some steps that should be taken in order to ensure a smooth transaction.