received this book as a gift from one who knew that my husband and i are embarking on the search for our first house. it seemed pretty thorough and informative, but when tested for nuts and bolts, i've found it lacking. for instance, we've been to a few open houses and determined our budget, so what now? do we talk to an agent first? get pre-approved for a loan? impossible to figure out from the book. and on a more basic level, i can't stand to read the prose for very long with all the snide comments, that i guess are meant to be funny.... i was inspired to come rate the book on amazon by the especially involved dig at people who have supplemented their education with graduate degrees, or should i say 'extra pieces of paper for the wall'? blech. i've heard it before. spend a little more time on the homebuying advice and less on the self-derogatory humor, eric.

I was hoping the 4th Edition of this book brings more relevant items pertained to the 2008 crash and what's happening in the last 12 mos. But I should had known, paper books take awhile to edit, publish, stock, so I feel I kinda wasted my money and could had borrowed a 3rd Ed from the library instead. But if u are not paying full retail like I did go4rit. Overall excellent info for the first-time buyer. I personally wish it has gone into more details of some of the items. To complement this book, you most likely have to get another one on FORECLOSURE unless u absolutely shunt going this route. A separate book on MORTGAGE is also recommended for completeness.

I am looking for my first house and not very knowledgeable about the subject. This book provided with excellent information about the home buying process, things to watch out for, and great tips that will save you money... Highly recommend it.

This book has the information first time homebuyers need. It takes you step by step through the home-buying process. Very helpful!

First time home buying can be a daunting and confusing process. This book spells out in detail all the steps required from evaluating how much money you can use to buy the house to actually closing on the property. I was half way through the act of buying a house and found if full of facts and tips to help me understand the process. In fact, I still reference the book to make sure that I completley understand and am aware of what exactly is happening. Additionally, there are tips for investing, both in money markets and in property. I would reccomend this book to anyone who is about to buy a home, whether for the first time or a seasoned second or third time home buyer. Great job!

The title says it all: Dummies. It offers only the most basic info and is written by "dummies" themselves. The stories used to offer scenarios are of no help and the use of dumb humor makes the reader question why they actually are a dummy for purchasing this book. Should have bought the other one! DOH! Judging by the pokes at people, sounds like the two authors are you standard "dummy" business men who are not themselves intelligent enough for things other than "dummy" books.

Save your money and your time.

Although the title is a bit weird, the book and it's content is GREAT for the beginning home buyer!

The information is what you need to be on the cutting edge of what goes on in this arena of buying a home.

I would recommend you read this first BEFORE you go to look at houses.

Enjoy!
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A friend recommended this book, and it is a helpful reference that covers all the basics. Confused by inspection and what to expect? There are helpful hints and good definitions to help you figure that stuff out. This book helped "calm me down" by explaining all the processes of home buying in a simple way so there were no surprises.

My only real gripe is that the book is VERY California biased. While it is impossible to clarify all the nuances of buying a home in different states, counties, and towns... the homebuying process differs significantly in California than most of the northeast. Well, the process may be the same - but escrow agents? Huh? We got lawyers for that. Some terminology was a bit confusing. And there was plenty of coverage about earthquakes... but what about snow? Or what to look for with different types of heat? These are HUGE concerns when buying a house in the northeast and these issues aren't even discussed. I felt the book could be more comprehensive in addressing homebuying across the USA... not just in Cali.

New home buyers might be tempted by the 2009 combination of low home prices, low interest rates, and federal incentives to start searching for a home. If you do, and especially if you live in a heavily regulated state like California, books like this one are extremely valuable. Much of the advice might seem "obvious" when you think about it (why do you "need" title insurance anyway?) but no one thinks about all aspects of purchasing a home when they first enter the market. This book spells out all the steps you need to take from deciding whether you really need to buy a home at all (if you are planning to move soon, don't) to saving for a down payment all the way through escrow. Mortgage options (15 v. 30 year, adjustable or fixed) are also covered in some detail so potential homebuyers can make sound choices. It is, on the whole, a very useful book.

This For Dummies guide also includes quite a bit of valuable information most people would not think of when buying a home. Sandbagging by mortgage companies is moderately more common than you might expect in a down market and this guide tells you how to recognize it. The authors also explain why sellers, in general, are not very realistic about what their property is worth and how to effectively use the internet when searching for a home. Hint, mortgage calculators are not nearly as useful as they are convenient. You should know from your own budget (including contributions for retirement savings) what you can afford, and not be pushed into a house beyond your means by a calculator that only considers your income and debt ratios. Finally, the book covers the psychology of home purchases, including buyers remorse and negotiations.

There is simply too much in this book to cover it all. Suffice to say, this is not a guide to getting rich in real estate. The authors (wrongly, in my opinion) do view real estate as an investment but first time home buyers, the target audience for this book, should not. Homes can in fact be something of a liability. But the 4th edition of 'Home Buying for Dummies' can help you limit the costs associated with buying your home and for this reason alone the book is invaluable. And if, in the future, you should actually make money on your purchase, more power to you. Besides, the authors have another title for you on how to sell your home. If it is even close to as comprehensive as this book, you should buy it too when the time comes.