Clark Smart Real Estate: The Ultimate Guide to Buying and Selling Real Estate

Overview

One of America's leading consumer advocates and popular talk show hosts offers his tips and tricks to successfully buying and selling real estate -- in any market

Real estate -- whether in a boom or a bust economy -- is still a good investment, but only if you make smart and patient choices. There is a lot of confusing information out there, and many people find it increasingly difficult to navigate the ever-changing world of real estate without losing their shirts, or their ...

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Overview

One of America's leading consumer advocates and popular talk show hosts offers his tips and tricks to successfully buying and selling real estate -- in any market

Real estate -- whether in a boom or a bust economy -- is still a good investment, but only if you make smart and patient choices. There is a lot of confusing information out there, and many people find it increasingly difficult to navigate the ever-changing world of real estate without losing their shirts, or their minds. In Clark Smart Real Estate, talk show host and bestselling author Clark Howard presents the best of his experience as a consumer advocate. In his simple and clear style, he shows readers how they can build wealth slowly over time through real estate, and how they can capitalize on -- and protect themselves from -- the real estate market's many fluctuations over the long term.

Following his own "save more, spend less, and avoid ripoffs," philosophy, Howard encourages people to get "Clark Smart" and lays out practical and information-packed answers to common questions anyone interested in real estate might have about buying, selling, or financing. When should you buy your first home? Is it better to purchase a preexisting house or one newly built? What are some hidden closing costs, and how can you avoid them? Should you sell your home yourself? How does one shop for a mortgage? What are the costs of refinancing?

Sound advice in a handy format -- this is what Clark Howard's readers have been waiting for, and it's just in time to help the multitudes flummoxed by today's conflicting real estate market.

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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781401307851
  • Publisher: Hyperion
  • Publication date: 4/10/2007
  • Pages: 156
  • Sales rank: 632,175
  • Product dimensions: 7.20 (w) x 9.20 (h) x 0.40 (d)

Meet the Author

Clark Howard is the host of The Clark Howard Show, a radio talk show syndicated in more than ninety cities around the country. He is also a featured commentator on WSB-TV in Atlanta and a columnist with the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Mark Meltzer is an editor at the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Both authors reside in Atlanta.
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Table of Contents


A Note from Clark     ix
Buying
10 Questions You Should Ask Before Buying a House     1
Home-Buying Introduction     3
Your First House     4
Getting Ready     7
Should You Choose a Covenant Community?     19
Buying a New House     21
Buying a Used House     31
The Condo Life     37
The Buyer's Frenzy     45
Buying by the Season     47
Factory-Built Houses     48
Dealing with a Fixer-Upper     50
Tips on Buying a House     55
Selling
10 Questions You Should Ask Before Selling Your House     57
Selling Introduction     58
Getting Your House Ready to Sell     59
Should You Sell It Yourself?     63
Hiring an Agent     57
The Two-House Ballet     71
Slow Sellers     73
Cutting Your Losses     76
Should You Sign Your House Over to Your Child?     77
Tips on Selling Your House     78
Investing
10 Questions You Should Ask Before Investing in Real Estate     81
Investing Introduction     32
So You Want to Be a Landlord?     83
Buying and Sellingfor Profit     89
Buying Rental Property     91
Buying a Vacation or Second Home     96
Tips on Investing in Real Estate     102
Financing
10 Questions You Should Ask Before Financing Your Home     105
Financing Introduction     106
Shopping for a Mortgage     107
What Kind of Loan?     110
Pricing a Mortgage: Interest Rates, Points, and Closing Costs     115
Finding a Lender     118
Lock-Ins     120
Refinancing     123
Tips on Financing a House     126
Taxes & Insurance
10 Questions You Should Ask About Taxes and Insurance     129
Taxes and Insurance Introduction     130
Property Taxes     131
Homeowners Insurance     133
Mortgage Insurance     139
Title Insurance     141
Tips on Taxes and Insurance     142
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