[...]... always point out situations in which we think that’s a good idea—consult an attorney licensed to practice in your state Bray, Ilona M., 1962-Nolo’s essential guide to buying your first home / by Ilona Bray, Alayna Schroeder, & Marcia Stewart 2nd ed p cm ISBN-13: 978-4133-0935-5 (pbk.) ISBN-10: 1-4133-0935-6 (pbk.) 1 House buying I Schroeder, Alayna, 1975- II Stewart, Marcia III Title HD1390.5.B734... helped us get there—professionals (some who taught us what to do, others who taught us what not to do!) and our families, who share the joy of homeownership with us About the Authors Ilona Bray is an attorney, author, and legal editor at Nolo Her other real estate books include The Essential Guide for First- Time Homeowners and Selling your House in a Tough Market, both co-authored with Alayna Schroeder... with adviser Sandy Gadow Your Homebuying Companion Buying a house may be one of the first certifiably grown-up things you ever do And no matter how ready you feel, taking a major step like this —particularly one where there are so many zeros on the price tag—can make you want to just close your eyes and get it over with But if you’re going to invest your time and money, you want to make sure you don’t... working on a real estate story—people from the realty industry would say, ʹHow can you write about home ownership when you donʹt even own a home? ʹ Iʹd say, ʹDo I have to rob a bank to write about crime?ʹ Now that Iʹve been writing about real estate for years, I realize thereʹs no end of stuff to learn— details of mortgages, appraisals, the physical structure of homes, unique homebuying experiences, and... Questionnaire Attorney Reference Questionnaire Home Inspector Interview Questionnaire Home Inspector Reference Questionnaire Tools for Evaluating a House’s Physical Condition Indiana Seller’s Residential Real Estate Disclosure California Real Estate Transfer Disclosure Statement California Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement Sample Home Inspection Report Final Walk-Through Checklist (Existing Home) Final... turned it into a beautifully designed book And to Ellen Bitter in Nolo’s Application Development Department for helping put together the capital Homebuyer’s Toolkit on the CD-ROM Thanks also to Nolo founder Jake Warner, who championed this book idea for many years Our basements may be cluttered, our gardens may need weeding, and our floors may need a good scrubbing—but we love our homes Thanks to the people... happy to stay in for a long time, no matter what the market does To do that, you need a lot of information This book is full of nuts-and-bolts information about the homebuying process But it’s also got anecdotes and advice that we hope will remind you to enjoy this exciting, if sometimes frustrating or nervewracking process Keep in mind what you’re aiming for: your own home, where you’re free to pound... a “Dream List” that prompts you to set out your priorities, checklists to carry when you tour a house or condo, or a set of interview questions for potential real estate agents, you’ll find it there And as a bonus, it includes MP3s with interviews of several of our advisers, plus this book’s authors, who share their insider insights Navigating the path to YOUR FIRST HOME The three authors of this book,... goals and objectives may be, we hope you recognize yourself in some of the stories and experiences reflected in this book So hang on tight to this book, that is It will be your companion, providing advice, information, and inspiration all along the path to your new front door CHAPTER 1 What’s So Great About Buying a House? Why You Can and Should Do It Meet Your Adviser Broderick Perkins, an award-winning... surrounding trees Alayna Schroeder is a member of Nolo’s editorial staff whose legal career has taken her from corporate law firm to consulting to a stint in the Peace Corps According to Sacramento Magazine, the home she shares with her husband and Bolivian-born dog, Luna, is in one of the Sacramento area’s ten Great Neighborhoods—a fact Alayna tries to remember as she redoes the aging plaster and labors . idea—consult an attorney licensed to practice in your state. Bray, Ilona M., 1962-Nolo’s essential guide to buying your first home / by Ilona Bray, Alayna Schroeder, & Marcia Stewart. 2nd ed Costs of Buying and Owning a Home Spend Much? How Lenders Use Your Debt -to- Income Ratio Blasts From the Past: How Your Credit History Factors In What’s Your Monthly Budget? Understanding Your Finances Getting. Pizzazz: Your Home Is Your Castle No More Mr. Roper: Say Goodbye to Renting You Can Do It … If You Want To CHAPTER 2 - What Do You Want? Figuring Out Your Homebuying Needs Know Your Ideal