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three million people in the United States will purchase homes in the first year of the
millennium. Whether first-timers or veterans, home buyers who haven't checked out the real
estate market in the past three years are in for a surprise. It's now possible for people
from every walk of life to find the house of their dreams, whether next store or in the
next state, without leaving the comfort of their computer. The World Wide Web lists about 1.3 million homes for sale and includes about
30,000 real estate related sites. Open for house hunting 24-hours a day, 7 days a week,
the Internet can also help with securing financing--and save home buyers a bundle on their
mortgage. Yet, despite the convenience and cost-cutting advantages, it's easy to get lost
in real estate cyberspace--and wind up trapped in a real-world homeowner's nightmare.
The Unofficial Guide to Buying a Home Online
shows how to maximize the Internet's potential to make that dream house a reality. This is
a guidebook laden with insider information, written by Kathleen Sindell, Ph.D.This book is
both an authoritative reference and a results-oriented road map. Throughout, it highlights
the best Web sites on every aspect of home buying, from researching a community to closing
the deal.
Dr. Sindell begins by giving prospective home buyers an
overview of the realities ahead. She calls attention to the critical issues that every
would-be homeowner should consider, from getting a grasp on the economics, demographics,
and real estate market in a target neighborhood to setting a realistic price range. But
she first directs you to an honest assessment of their net worth and credit rating. To
ease the challenges, she offers targeted self-assessment tests, charts, and worksheets.
She also points the way to general real estate Web sites, like realtor.com, for
nuts-and-bolts information and online tutorials.
Comprehensive, easy to follow, and immediately useful, The
Unofficial Guide to Buying a Home Online is organized to mirror the natural
progression of the home buying process. Step by step, it presents concrete strategies and
expert advice to empower aspiring homeowners. Anyone with Internet access will learn
precisely how to:
- Find the right city and neighborhood--with the facts on
schools, crime, and cost of living.
- Connect with a top-rated, affordable real estate
agent--anywhere in the country.
- Narrow in on the best homes for the best deals--and spot
overpriced houses.
- Explore FSBOs--properties for sale by owner,
commission-free--and avoid the risks.
- Locate high-quality, low-cost sources for mortgages.
- Locate appraisers, inspectors, and other professionals
to ensure a safe and sound purchase.
Click
here for the Table of Contents
About the author
Kathleen Sindell, Ph.D., is the founder of a consulting
firm that specializes in management consulting and authoritative publications about the
e-commerce environment. She is the author of Investing
Online For Dummies® (IDG Books Worldwide), The
Handbook of Real Estate Lending, and A
Hands-On Guide to Mortgage Banking Internet Sites,
a directory published by Mortgage Banking magazine.
The Unofficial Guide to Buying a Home Online
By Kathleen Sindell, Ph.D.
$15.95/ $24.95 Canada
Paperback - 400 pages (April 2000) Trade
paper
IDG Books Worldwide; ISBN: 0028637518
For more information contact April
Whitney at AWhitney@kathleensindell.com
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