| The Unofficial Guide Reader's Bill of Rights |
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xv | |
| The Unofficial Guide Panel of Experts |
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xxi | |
| Introduction |
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xxv | |
| I So You're Thinking About Buying a Home |
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1 | (76) |
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3 | (22) |
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Should you purchase a home? |
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4 | (1) |
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Can you save big bucks by buying a home online? |
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5 | (2) |
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Getting connected and going online |
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7 | (1) |
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What does buying a home online mean? |
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8 | (3) |
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9 | (1) |
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10 | (1) |
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Where should you start online? |
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11 | (10) |
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Finding real estate Web sites |
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12 | (4) |
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The process of buying a home online |
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16 | (4) |
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20 | (1) |
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Using the Internet to be prepared |
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21 | (2) |
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23 | (2) |
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Creating a Financial Game Plan |
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25 | (32) |
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Getting your financial house in order |
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26 | (1) |
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The personal financial planning process |
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27 | (9) |
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Determining your net worth |
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28 | (2) |
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How are you using your income? |
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30 | (3) |
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Making a budget based on your goals |
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33 | (1) |
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Creating your financial plan |
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34 | (1) |
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Using personal finance software |
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35 | (1) |
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36 | (3) |
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Understanding the credit reporting system |
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39 | (14) |
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What credit reports do and don't contain |
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40 | (1) |
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41 | (1) |
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Checking out your own credit report |
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42 | (2) |
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44 | (2) |
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Improving your FICO score |
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46 | (3) |
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Correcting errors on your credit report |
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49 | (2) |
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Deleting credit inquiries |
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51 | (2) |
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53 | (3) |
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Getting help with your credit problems |
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54 | (1) |
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Avoiding getting into credit trouble |
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55 | (1) |
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56 | (1) |
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Is Now the Right Time to Buy a Home? |
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57 | (20) |
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Financial profiles of homeowners |
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58 | (1) |
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59 | (8) |
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60 | (1) |
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60 | (2) |
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Sorting your housing needs and wants |
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62 | (1) |
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63 | (4) |
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67 | (4) |
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68 | (1) |
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69 | (1) |
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The math aspects of the rent vs. buy decision |
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70 | (1) |
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Setting a realistic price range |
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71 | (3) |
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74 | (2) |
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76 | (1) |
| II Shopping for a Home Without Leaving Your Computer |
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77 | (66) |
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Finding a Neighborhood Next Door or Across the Country |
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79 | (18) |
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Nationwide and regional housing trends |
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80 | (2) |
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Relocating to a different state |
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82 | (2) |
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84 | (4) |
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Comparing the cost of living for different cities |
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85 | (2) |
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Using online cost-of-living calculators |
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87 | (1) |
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Finding the right neighborhood |
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88 | (8) |
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Learning about a neighborhood firsthand |
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89 | (1) |
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Learning about a neighborhood online |
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89 | (1) |
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Analyzing and understanding a neighborhood report |
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90 | (6) |
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96 | (1) |
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Using a Real Estate Agent |
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97 | (22) |
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How a real estate agent can help you |
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98 | (6) |
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Types of real estate professionals |
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101 | (1) |
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The responsibilities of real estate professionals |
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102 | (2) |
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The awful truth about commissions |
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104 | (2) |
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What to look for in an agent |
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106 | (5) |
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111 | (6) |
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112 | (2) |
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Finding an out-of-state agent |
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114 | (3) |
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Is your real estate agent doing the job? |
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117 | (1) |
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118 | (1) |
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Finding Your Dream Home Online |
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119 | (24) |
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120 | (4) |
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Using a scorecard to compare houses |
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120 | (2) |
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122 | (2) |
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Determining whether to buy a new or an established home |
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124 | (1) |
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124 | (7) |
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The advantages of a new home |
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125 | (1) |
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The limitations of a new home |
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126 | (1) |
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Checking out the trends in new homes |
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127 | (1) |
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Getting the right stuff in a new home |
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128 | (1) |
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Using the Internet to locate new homes |
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129 | (1) |
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130 | (1) |
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Purchasing an established home |
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131 | (5) |
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The advantages of an existing home |
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131 | (1) |
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The limitations of an existing home |
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132 | (1) |
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Getting the right stuff in an existing home |
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133 | (1) |
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134 | (2) |
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Using the Internet to find the best homes at the best prices |
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136 | (6) |
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Using the Internet to spot overpriced homes |
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139 | (1) |
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Pay less by using online comparable market analysis |
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140 | (2) |
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142 | (1) |
| III Getting Financing with the Help of the Internet |
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143 | (50) |
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Online Mortgage Advice and Lending |
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145 | (28) |
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146 | (1) |
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Online home loan intermediaries---aggregators |
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147 | (1) |
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What counts to mortgage lenders |
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148 | (1) |
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149 | (9) |
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The paperwork you need to provide |
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151 | (1) |
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152 | (3) |
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Finding the best interest rate |
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155 | (1) |
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Getting the best deal by comparing mortgage loans |
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156 | (2) |
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158 | (4) |
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158 | (2) |
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160 | (1) |
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161 | (1) |
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Choosing a program that's right for you |
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162 | (1) |
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Finding a mortgage online |
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162 | (4) |
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Getting ahead of the game with prequalification or preapproval |
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166 | (5) |
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The online prequalification process |
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167 | (2) |
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The online preapproval process |
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169 | (1) |
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Comparing online preapproval and loan application forms |
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170 | (1) |
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171 | (2) |
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Avoiding the Down Payment Cash Crunch |
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173 | (20) |
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Coming up with a down payment |
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174 | (6) |
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How much should you put down? |
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176 | (1) |
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The lowdown on private mortgage insurance |
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177 | (1) |
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Buying a home with little or no money down |
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178 | (2) |
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Government-sponsored no and low down payment plans |
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180 | (4) |
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180 | (1) |
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181 | (1) |
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181 | (1) |
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State and local government loan programs |
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182 | (1) |
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Other no and low down payment programs |
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183 | (1) |
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When none of the traditional options work: creative financing |
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184 | (5) |
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Assuming someone else's mortgage |
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184 | (1) |
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185 | (2) |
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Renting with the option to buy |
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187 | (1) |
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188 | (1) |
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Special programs for first-time homebuyers |
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189 | (3) |
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192 | (1) |
| IV Closing In on Your New Home |
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193 | (66) |
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Online Help with Appraisals, Inspections, and Insurance |
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195 | (22) |
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Getting a property appraisal |
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196 | (7) |
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How property is appraised |
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200 | (1) |
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Online comparable sales reports |
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201 | (2) |
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Getting a home inspection |
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203 | (6) |
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Doing your own home inspection |
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204 | (1) |
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The benefits on professional home inspections |
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205 | (1) |
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How to select a home inspector |
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206 | (1) |
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How to read a home inspection report |
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207 | (2) |
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Finding homeowners insurance |
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209 | (5) |
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The basics of homeowners insurance policies |
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210 | (3) |
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Keeping your insurance costs low |
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213 | (1) |
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214 | (2) |
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216 | (1) |
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Negotiating and Closing the Deal |
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217 | (22) |
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218 | (4) |
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218 | (2) |
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220 | (1) |
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221 | (1) |
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Using the Internet to be a better negotiator |
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221 | (1) |
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Making an offer they can't refuse |
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222 | (6) |
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Determining your offer price |
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224 | (1) |
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The reality of ``low-ball'' offers |
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225 | (1) |
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225 | (1) |
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Adding contingencies to your offer |
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226 | (1) |
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Adding optional contingencies |
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227 | (1) |
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Online help with making an offer |
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228 | (1) |
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228 | (3) |
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229 | (1) |
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Typical seller counteroffers |
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230 | (1) |
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231 | (1) |
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232 | (1) |
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233 | (5) |
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233 | (3) |
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236 | (1) |
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Online resources to help you prepare for the closing |
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236 | (2) |
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238 | (1) |
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Costs and Tax Benefits Associated with Buying a Home |
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239 | (20) |
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Understanding closing costs |
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240 | (6) |
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Documents related to closing costs |
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242 | (3) |
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Comparing actual closing costs with estimates |
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245 | (1) |
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The types of closing costs |
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246 | (6) |
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Lender-based closing costs |
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248 | (2) |
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Government-based closing costs |
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250 | (1) |
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Other costs for establishing ownership |
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251 | (1) |
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Reducing your closing costs |
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252 | (2) |
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254 | (1) |
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The tax implications of buying a home |
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255 | (2) |
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255 | (1) |
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256 | (1) |
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257 | (2) |
| V The Real Estate Road Less Traveled |
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259 | (42) |
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The Internet and Do-It-Yourself Real Estate |
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261 | (16) |
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262 | (4) |
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264 | (1) |
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264 | (1) |
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265 | (1) |
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265 | (1) |
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Finding FSBO listings online |
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266 | (6) |
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Nationwide online FSBO listings |
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267 | (2) |
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Regional online FSBO listings |
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269 | (2) |
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FSBO notification services |
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271 | (1) |
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272 | (3) |
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Potential FSBO negotiating difficulties |
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272 | (3) |
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Congratulations! You've struck a deal! |
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275 | (1) |
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275 | (2) |
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Getting Online Help with Becoming an Owner-Builder |
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277 | (24) |
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Deciding to build your own home |
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278 | (7) |
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279 | (1) |
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Getting smart with owner-builder seminars and classes |
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280 | (1) |
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Contractor-assisted programs |
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281 | (2) |
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Estimating the cost of a building project |
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283 | (2) |
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Location, location, location |
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285 | (4) |
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Determining how much to pay for your lot |
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286 | (1) |
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Using the Internet to find the perfect residential lot |
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287 | (1) |
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Using the Internet to find land for sale by owner |
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288 | (1) |
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Selecting your house plans |
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289 | (3) |
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Finding an architect online |
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289 | (1) |
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Finding ready-made house plans on the Internet |
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290 | (2) |
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Selecting the right house plan for the lot |
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292 | (1) |
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Online help with selecting and evaluating contractors |
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292 | (2) |
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Finding owner-builder financing online |
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294 | (2) |
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Tips for staying on schedule and within your budget |
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296 | (1) |
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Working with building regulations |
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297 | (2) |
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Acquiring building hazard insurance |
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299 | (1) |
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300 | (1) |
| VI Wrapping It Up, Moving In, and Moving Out |
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301 | (66) |
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Getting Moving Help Online |
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303 | (24) |
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304 | (7) |
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Establishing a timeline for moving |
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306 | (2) |
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Estimating the cost of moving |
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308 | (3) |
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Deciding whether to move yourself or hire a moving company |
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311 | (6) |
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311 | (3) |
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314 | (1) |
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Using a corporate relocation service |
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315 | (2) |
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Insuring the valuables you are moving |
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317 | (2) |
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319 | (2) |
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319 | (1) |
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319 | (1) |
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320 | (1) |
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Using the Internet to change your address |
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321 | (1) |
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322 | (2) |
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Deducting moving expenses from your income taxes |
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324 | (1) |
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325 | (2) |
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Online Help for Making Your House a Home |
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327 | (22) |
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328 | (5) |
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Planning what to do and how to do it |
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329 | (1) |
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Dispelling myths about contractors |
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330 | (2) |
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Defining your home improvement project online |
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332 | (1) |
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Finding expert home improvement help |
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333 | (7) |
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Avoiding home improvement scams |
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336 | (2) |
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338 | (2) |
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Do-it-yourself home improvements |
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340 | (2) |
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Getting the most bang for your home improvement buck |
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342 | (6) |
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Getting the most for your restoration money |
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345 | (1) |
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Paying for your home improvements |
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346 | (2) |
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348 | (1) |
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Marketing and Selling Your Home Online |
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349 | (18) |
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350 | (2) |
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Using the Internet to set a price |
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352 | (2) |
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354 | (3) |
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Making your house look its best |
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355 | (1) |
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Getting your own inspection |
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356 | (1) |
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Marketing your home online and offline |
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357 | (3) |
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357 | (1) |
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357 | (2) |
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359 | (1) |
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Working with a listing agent |
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360 | (3) |
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Selling your home without an agent |
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363 | (3) |
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364 | (1) |
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FSBO help from discounted real estate brokerages |
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365 | (1) |
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366 | (1) |
| VII Appendixes |
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367 | (52) |
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369 | (12) |
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B Online Home Buying Resource Directory |
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381 | (32) |
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C Home Buying Bibliography |
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413 | (6) |
| Index |
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419 | |
Other versions by this Author