GENERAL

• How do I figure out what kind of home I want?
• What is the first step when buying a home?
• What is the biggest surprise in the home-buying process?
• Can I trust my real estate agent on legal matters?

NEGOTIATION

• How does the offer process work?
• Does a contingency represent a loophole out of the deal?
• What standard contingencies are in an offer?
• Would I offer less than I am willing to pay?
• What should I do before I make an offer?
• What closing date should I avoid?
• Can I ask if the seller is flexible with price?
• Should I move fast to buy a home?
• What is usually included in the sale of a home?
• Is the seller of a single-family home required to make the house handicapped accessible?
• Are sellers ever willing to include personal property with sale?
• What can reduce uncertainty when buying a home?
• What are some questions I need to ask about the list price of the home?
• Do sellers have to disclose the terms of other offers?
• Should I assume a house is in good shape if I can't see any defects?
• I want to look at a house but the sellers never leave. What should I do?
• How can I avoid something going wrong in the home-buying process?
• At what point do most home sales fall apart?
• What kind of record keeping should I do during the home-buying process?
• What is the difference between list price and sales price?
• Do I have legal recourse if the seller backs out?
• Can I back out of my home purchase contract because I had a change of heart?
• How can I determine the boundaries of the property?
• How can I determine casements?
• Is it likely that the seller will take my first offer?
• Should I worry about seller contingencies?
• How many times should I look at a house before I make an offer?
• How many people are involved in the home-buying process?

INSPECTIONS

• How exactly does the inspection contingency protect me?
• How quickly must we get the house inspected?
• How much does a home inspection cost?
• How do appraisers come to their conclusions?
• Should I wait to get an appraisal until after the home inspection?
• Should I put a contingency in the purchase agreement for an appraisal?
• Does the buyer or the seller pay for a home warranty?
• Do I need to go onto the home inspection with the home inspector?
• Is a termite inspection mandatory?
• Which party pays for termite work?
• Why do I need to do a final walk-through of the house?
• Can I use the final walk-through to get out of my purchase contract?
• Is the home warranty an alternative to having my home inspected?
• What if I like the property so much I don't want to bother with an inspection?

DISCLOSURE

• Do Real Estate Agents have disclosure obligations?
• Can one Real Estate Agent represent both parties in a transaction?
• What can I do to avoid misrepresentation?
• What is the first thing I should do if I find a defect after I buy a home?

PURCHASE CONTRACT

• Are verbal agreements binding in a sale?
• Do I need to read everything in the purchase contract?
• Do purchase contracts favor the seller?
• Does a change to an offer require a new offer?
• Should the purchase contract include references to who pay closing costs?
• Should the purchase contract specify which features stay and which do not?
• Can I get out of my purchase contract if I did not fill out the loan application?
• Is a mortgage a legal document?
• Is a deed a legal document?
• What documents actually consummates the sale of a property?
• Can I close in less than 30 days?
• Does the escrow agent work for the buyer or the seller?
• How much can I afford to buy?

FINANCING

• What is the financial advantage of owning a house?
• What is required for a pre-approved loan?
• Within what time period can I cancel a loan agreement?
• Will I receive an official government statement when I close on my new house?
• Is it difficult to finance an "as-is" purchase?
• Can I get help from my parents for a down payment?
• Can owner financing cover part of the sale?

FIXER-UPPER

• How do I know if buying a fixer-upper is right for me?
• Is it smart to buy a house, rehabilitate it and try to turn a profit?
• What makes a fixer-upper a good deal?
• Should I be pre-approved for an equity line to finance improvements before I compete the purchase of a fixer-upper?

INSURANCE

• What kind of insurance is required when buying a house?
• How can I save money on my homeowner's insurance?
• Do I really need title insurance?
• Do all loans require mortgage insurance?
• Is private mortgage insurance deductible?
• Am I required to purchase flood insurance?
• Are insurance rates pre-set?