Home Buying, Sweet Home Buying

Buying a house is a stressful experience, something I was reminded of recently while helping my parents (who currently reside in New York) house hunt and navigate buying a house locally. I bought a house with my husband about 10 years ago, and I think everyone who's been through the process will say it's nerve-wracking and confusing, not just because this will likely be the most costly investment you'll ever make, but also because it's difficult maneuvering all the steps and legalese involved.

That's where having a good realtor comes in. The pros of hiring a realtor is having someone guide you through the process and all the legal documents. Another advantage is having someone help with your house hunt and take you on a tour of houses in which you're interested. Sometimes, a realtor will even have the inside scoop on houses that are just about to go on the market, giving you first dibs on what may be your dream house (this is what happened to me and my husband). The big con of having a realtor, however, is paying a commission of up to 3% of the home's sale price.

Whether or not you decide to enlist the services of a realtor in searching for and buying a house, here are some notable resources for helping you start your journey to home ownership:

Books

• Nolo's Essential Guide to Buying Your First Home by Ilona Bray (643.12 BRA) Various real estate professionals--from brokers and mortgage specialists to home inspectors and others--educate on how to go about buying your first home.
• Buying a Home: The Missing Manual by Nancy Conner (643.12 CON) A real estate expert comprehensively simplifies the basics of buying a home.
• Making the Most of Your Veterans Affairs (VA) Home Loan Benefits by David E. Nelson, Jr. (643.12 NEL) An American veteran/realtor explains how to use your VA home loan benefits to purchase your home.
• Mortgages 101 by David Reed (332.7 REE) Find answers to a number of important questions you may have on taking a home loan.

Online Resources

• "How to Buy a House in 2023" by Rachel Cruze Gives steps on how to finance a home as well as the home-buying process, from house hunting to closing, through the website of personal finance expert Dave Ramsey.
• "Buying a Home" by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Provides a step-by-step guide in buying a home.
• "How to Find a Real Estate Agent: Where to Look and What to Ask" by Natalie Way Offers tips on finding a realtor and key questions to ask.

Of course, once you find that perfect place, the next big thing is moving all your furniture, household goods, and classic paperback book collection into it. Discussing adventures in moving, though, is something best left for a future post.

Wishing you happy times at home from the perch.