Home Buyer's Handbook

Table of Contents

The following is a table of contents for the Home Buyers Handbook. You may click on the headers for more information on that topic.

Thinking About Buying a Home?

  • Can You Afford a House?
  • Pre-Qualify for a Loan
  • What’s Your Price Range?
  • Figure Out What You Can Afford
  • What Do Lenders Want from You?
  • What Is Underwriting?

Where Do You Want to Live?

  • What Do You Want in a House?
  • Needs and Wants Checklist

The Cast of Characters

  • Discrimination and Fair Lending

Looking at Homes

  • Visit Open Houses
  • Multiple Listing Service (MLS)
  • For Sale by Owner Publications
  • Shopping the Classifieds

The Perfect Place

  • The Home Inspection
  • Making an Offer
  • Understanding the Purchase Agreement
  • Arbitration

Financing Your Home

  • Where Do You Find a Lender?
  • Resources for Low-Income Buyers
  • Will You Need Mortgage Insurance?
  • How Can You Get the Lowest Loan Rate Possible?
  • The Property Appraisal
  • Understanding Your Loan Payment
  • Beware of Abusive and Predatory Lending

Closing on Your Home

  • How to Avoid the Closing Blues
  • What is Homesteading?
  • What Insurance Do You Need to Buy
  • Closing Checklist

Know Your Rights

  • Equal Credit Opportunity Act
  • Minnesota Human Rights Act
  • Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA)
  • Loan Transfers
  • Closing Disclosure
  • Fair Credit Reporting Act

Resources


Related Posts:

Home Building and Remodeling

If you are planning to build or have work done on your home, take a moment to first read this handbook. This handbook will give you guidelines for selecting a contractor and writing a home improvement contract, as well as highlight Minnesota’s mechanic's lien law.

Condominium and Townhome Associations

Ownership in a condominium or townhome association offers an opportunity for home ownership without many of the added day-to-day responsibilities, such as snow removal or yard maintenance.

Door-to-Door Home Improvement Scams

Maybe your neighborhood has seen the scam: an unknown salesman travels from house to house offering to fix up homes or driveways at rock-bottom prices. What scammers never tell you is the "catch": if you pay upfront, they may run off with your money, leave the work undone, do shoddy work, or overcharge you in the end.