Hometown USA - Cities, Towns, Villages and Communities: Completely at Home

Inspect Your Home Before You Buy

Most homebuyers pay for a professional home inspector to thoroughly scrutinize the home they want to buy.

If you don't accompany the inspector as he or she makes the rounds, you'll miss out on the best opportunity to learn where the mechanical systems are located, how they work, and what you need to do to keep them running.

Many homebuyers show up at the end of a home inspection just to receive the report. But wouldn't you rather know that you need to re-caulk your windows to block the moisture? And to learn that the grading isn't steep enough to keep water running away from your foundation?

A skilled inspector should look at everything inside, including the attic, basement and crawl space, and should walk completely around the exterior and up on the roof. He or she may even look at outbuildings on the project.

Tag along. It may be the most useful hours you spend around your home.

Ilyce Glink is the bestselling author of 100 Questions Every First Time Home Buyer Should Ask, and is the Managing Editor of Right at Home Daily.

see more>>

Doing Your Final Walk-Through

Do you know what to check on your final walk-through of the property you're about to buy? Barbara Buchholz explains the purpose of your final walk-through, what to look for, and what to keep in mind.

Unless you've recently won the lottery, it's likely you'll be getting a loan to pay for your new home. Here's everything you need to know to get your application approved. From Margaret Crane, contributor to Newsweek, The New York Times and Money magazine and author of Successful Homebuilding and Remodeling: Real-Life Advice on Getting the House You Want without the Roof (or Sky) Falling In.

Tax Implications of Mortgage, Property Tax and Insurance Payments

How Much Can and Should You Borrow?

Knowing When It's Time to Refinance Your Home

Your Credit: Determining and Improving It

Will Buying a Home Bankrupt Me?

Finding The Right Lender

There's little chance you'll have a successful closing unless all of the details are in place. Here's some information to help you get from offer to closing without missing a beat. From Barbara Buchholz, former editor of House & Garden Guides Magazine and co-author of Porch Style and the New Homeowner's Handbook.

Doing Your Final Walk-Through

Buyer's Guide to Contracts and Forms

What to Expect on Closing Day

Process and Paperwork

The Differences Between a Co-op and a Condo

The Closing Timeline

For most, making an offer for a home is the most stressful part of the process. The information you'll find here will help you figure out everything from how much a piece of real estate is worth to how to win a bidding war. From Margaret Crane, contributor to Newsweek, The New York Times and Money magazine and author of Successful Homebuilding and Remodeling: Real-Life Advice on Getting the House You Want without the Roof (or Sky) Falling In.

What To Expect After Pitching An Offer

How to Win the Bidding War

How Do You Create a Good First Offer?

Figuring Out How Much The Property Is Worth

Negotiating Strategies In A Buyer's and Seller's Market

Completely at Home in Hometown USA®