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
- Checklists and Worksheets
- Loan Qualification Worksheet
- Closing Cost Comparison Worksheet
- Monthly Loan Payment Tables
- Household Income/Expense Worksheet
- Needs and Wants Checklist
- Inspection Checklist
- Sample Buyer's Contingency
- Closing Checklist
- A Home Buyer's Schedule
- Real Estate Agency Disclosures
- Explanation of Closing Costs
- Glossary of Terms
- Referral Guide
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.
