A Real Estate Lawyer For Homebuying???
Q: While I can't recommend a book I would suggest that you check out the community in which you want to buy/ your own community. Around here there are several seminars for first time home buyers during the year. Also there are seeral"home shows". At both these events there are lots of local mortgage people and real estate people so you could check out the different companies and people. Also you can find out about "special" home buying programs if that would interest you. You might call some realtors or city hall ( sponsers most of the home buying seminars here) to find out. Also make sure you have the home inspected by a competant inspector chosen by you on the recommendation of friends, family, coworkers, etc and not because the realtor recommends. Good luck. It is a nerve wracking process, my sister is in the process of buying a home right now.
A: -Depends on what kind of house you are looking for. I have gotten prettty good at picking up really junky nasty houses for no down and with no credit. You just get your hands real dirty and clean them up and fix them up. The best thing you can do is find out about the different types of mortgages and how they work. -Here are my tips: 1. Interview agents and pick a good one right away. A good agent can save you a lot of unnecessary leg work. A book I read recently (called Buyer Beware or something like that, about homes) had great info on how to pick an agent. 2. GET AN EXCLUSIVE BUYER'S AGENT. Don't work with a seller's agent. They are required by law to represent the seller and must pass on any info you divulge to the seller. An agent that alternates between being a seller's agent and a buyer's agent is going to steer you toward homes that he/she lists. An exclusive buyer's agent is the best way to go. 3. Pick a real estate lawyer early on. Again, go by recommendations, and get someone who really does real estate work. 4. Get prequalified before you look for a home. No use lookingat $200,000 homes when you can only afford $140,000. 5. READ, READ, READ. I went to the local library and got out about 6 books: Homeology (by Kiplingers), The Home Buyer's Inspection Guide, Buyer Beware, a few for first time home buyers. The more you read, the more you know. 6. Shop around for mortgage rates. The funny thing is, we did almost none of this. We had been keeping our eyes on the market for about 6 months, so knew what a good price was, and was just getting ready to pick an agent. In fact we had worked a little with one but hadn't signed anything yet. Then we stumbled on the PERFECT house. Built by a small builder. He said if we didn't bring an agent, he'd cut us some great discounts on options (and he did). We checked all the references, walked the neighborhood and knocked on doors to talk to others who had homes built by him (they all raved about him, not a single complaint), etc. He gave us the name of his lender, who was so wonderful and easy to work with, we didn't shop around. We were