Now updated - America's #1 bestselling home-buying book! Want to buy a house, but concerned about the market? Have no fear - this trusted guide arms you with Eric Tyson and Ray Brown's time-tested advice and updated strategies for buying a home in current market conditions. You'll discover how to find the right property, make smart financial decisions, and understand the latest lending requirements and tax implications. New to this edition - new and expanded coverage to help home buyers take advantage of low home prices, understand the subprime mortgage crisis, obtain a mortgage, and improve credit scores. To buy or not to buy? - weigh the advantages of owning versus renting, get your finances in order, and know how much house you can safely afford Handle financing - understand your credit rating, navigate the different types of mortgages, and complete all paperwork. Play the real estate game - find the right location and property, assemble an all-star real estate team, and make the most of the Internet's real estate resources. Let's make a deal - negotiate with finesse, make successful offers, inspect and protect your new home, and cover all your bases in escrow 'Invaluable information, especially for the first-time home buyer' - "Fort Worth Star-Telegram". 'A reference you'll turn to time after time' - "St. Petersburg Times". Open the book and find: reasons why home prices rise and fall; hands-on instruction for buying a home in up or down markets; how to pay the price you want; the best mortgage options; a sample home-buying contract; pros and cons of comparable market analysis; tips for overcoming mortgage and appraisal problems; how to cope with buyer's remorse; and, the best real estate Web sites.