The 106 Common Mistakes Homebuyers Make (and How to Avoid Them)

A new edition of the successful guide to common real estate mistakes Skyrocketing home prices. Persistent talk of housing bubbles. Multiple bid offers. Hidden defects. Creative financing ploys. Today’s homebuyers face unprecedented risks as they seek their cherished goal of homeownership. In response to these and many other current home buying challenges, bestselling author and real estate expert, Gary Eldred has updated his ever-popular guide. This unique book draws its contents from the experiences of hundreds of actual homebuyers, investors, and real estate agents. In addition to the common pitfalls, this new Fourth Edition focuses on the skills necessary to avoid mistakes in hot markets such as overbidding, buying more house than one can afford, and the failure to understand the risks involved in the many new, easy-finance programs. Eldred also shows readers how to improve their odds of a successful purchase by intelligent use of the Internet to collect property data, pricing information, and neighborhood pros and cons. A highly profitable read for both new and experienced homebuyers. Gary W. Eldred (Gainesville, FL) has been involved in hundreds of real estate transactions as a buyer, seller, and consultant. Nationally known for his Stop Renting Now seminars, he is the Executive Director of the National Initiative for Home Ownership. He is also the author of The Beginner’s Guide to Real Estate Investing (0-471-64711-X) and Investing in Real Estate (with Andrew McLean) (0-471-74120-5), both from Wiley.