Personal Finance: Real Estate
ALA Recommended Books
Buying a Home by
Home ownership is a cornerstone of the American dream, but it's a complex process that, without the right guidance, can seem like a nightmare. This Missing Manual takes you through the process of buying a home, from start to finish. Along the way, you'll use the book's expert advice and fill-in forms to identify the house you want, figure out what kind of neighborhood you want to live in, determine what a target home is really worth, make an offer, and close the deal. Throughout the process, this book helps you: Realistically determine how much house you can afford Assemble a real estate team that's looking after your interests and not the seller's Understand the different ways to finance your house, and which is best for you Create an attractive offer with the best chance of acceptance Learn what lenders look for so you can get your mortgage approved Inspect your new home to uncover potential problems Prepare all the right paperwork for a smooth closing
Call Number: RCLSISBN: 9781449379773Publication Date: 2010
Home Buying Kiit by
America's #1 bestselling home buying guide Are you looking to buy a house, but don't quite know where to begin? Have no fear! This new edition of Home Buying Kit For Dummies arms you with Eric Tyson and Ray Brown's time-tested advice and strategies for buying a home in current market conditions. Packed with valuable tips for getting the best deal on your new home and navigating an ever-changing housing market, it shows you how to find the right property, make smart financial decisions, and understand the latest lending requirements and tax implications. Thanks to looser lending standards, lower down payment mortgages, and a wider selection of homes to choose from, first-time homebuyers are making a comeback in the housing market. But if you don't know a Colonial from a counter offer, the process of buying a home can be daunting. Luckily, this bestselling guide is here to take the confusion out of the process! In plain English, it provides step-by-step guidance for buying the home of your dreams, from inspecting a property to evaluating a location to making sense of loan applications, tax documents, and counter offer forms. Negotiate your best deal and obtain a lower down payment mortgage Improve your credit score Make sense of changing lending standards Take the confusion out of lending laws, mortgage rates, and marketplace conditions Whether you're a renter, investor, or current homeowner, everything you need to plant roots in a new home sweet home is just a page away.
Call Number: RCLSISBN: 9781119191704Publication Date: 2016
The Just Right Home by
Thirty-seven million Americans move during any given year. Millions more think about it. They all want the same thing--a perfect place to live. But most of us have only the vaguest idea of what makes us happy, home-wise, and don't even know all the questions to ask. That's where Marianne Cusato comes in. One of the most influential people in the home-building industry, designer of the Katrina Cottages, and go-to authority for the media on issues related to housing, she's written a comprehensive, interactive guide to finding the just right home. This is the book that answers the plea she hears every time she gives a speech--"I wish I'd talked to you before buying my house!" By leading the reader through every step of choosing a home--from the broad strokes, such as city vs. suburb and buy vs. rent, to specific details of energy use and building materials--The Just Right Home helps readers understand not only what they want in a home but what they need. It shows why proximity--to work, to stores, to schools--trumps location, and what the difference means. Why a property's live-in value is greater than its resale value. How to identify and assess the big three variables: function, cost, delight. How to get a realistic grip on budget, including factoring in maintenance costs. How to plan for future needs--children moving out, a parent moving in, or just growing old in a home. Why all square feet are not created equal. The ins and outs of zonings, covenants, home-owner associations. The five elements to look for when walking through a property. How much to pay an inspector. And so much more. Filled with sidebars, boxes, examples, anecdotes, and cheat sheets, it's the book that helps readers answer all their questions about where to live and what to live in.
Call Number: RCLSISBN: 9780761168911Publication Date: 2013
Next Generation Real Estate by
Everything you thought you knew about real estate has changed. nbsp;Technologically, behaviorally, and culturally the world is more dynamic than ever. The result is a new portrait of the American Dream, one that is much more eclectic and complex and in need of new ground rules.nbsp; No matter who you are, what generation you are from or how much experience you have in real estate, this book will help you buy smarter or sell faster. Zillow's top blogger, DeSimone speaks to the concerns, behaviors, and goals of all home buyers and sellers; from Millennials to Gen Xers to BabyBoomers. Some of the progressive and contrarian perspectives, unique tips, and out-of-the-box advice that fill the pages of Next Generation Real Estate were born out of Brendon's feet-on-the-street experiences selling residential real estate in California, at one of the most dynamic times for real estate.nbsp;nbsp; Alongside exclusive interviews with top experts including Shark Tank's Barbara Corcoran, Zillow CEO Spencer Rascoff, and Curbed Founder Lockhart Steele, DeSimone offers buyers and sellers concrete advice and tips for getting into the market today. Next Generation Real Estate provides the new rules for smarter buying and faster selling.
Call Number: RCLSISBN: 9780984940059Publication Date: 2014
Nolo's Essential Guide to Buying Your First Home by
There's no place like home! The number of homes for sale is on the rise and mortgage rates remain near historic lows. That makes now a great time to say goodbye to your landlord. With Nolo's Essential Guide to Buying Your First Home, you'll not only find the right house for you, you'll have fun doing it. This book provides everything you need to: research the local market and listings decide between a house, condo, co-op, or townhouse create a realistic budget qualify for a loan you can truly afford borrow a down payment from friends or family protect yourself with inspections and insurance, and negotiate and close the deal successfully. You'll find insights from 15 real estate professionals--brokers, attorneys, mortgage specialists, a home inspector, a neighborhood researcher, and more. It's like having a team of experts by your side! Plus, read real-life stories of over 20 first-time homebuyers. Download the Homebuyer's ToolkitDozens of downloadable forms and podcasts that will help you find your dream home, crunch the numbers, interview real estate professionals, inspect the house thoroughly, and more--available on Nolo.com (details inside).
Call Number: RCLS (PRL: 643.1209 BRA 2015)ISBN: 9781413323450Publication Date: 2016 + older editions
Rent vs. Own by
Finally, a real estate reality check that cuts through all the biased rhetoric to answer the conundrum on everyone's mind: Should I buy now or keep renting? The magnitude of the housing crash and constantly conflicting reporting have left prospective buyers hungry for a well-researched reference guide. EnterRent vs. Own, the first real estate advice book not to assume buying is always best. Expert finance and real estate reporter Jane Hodges explains how the housing market works and breaks down all the pros and cons of buying and renting. With dozens of success stories and cautionary tales from real-life renters and owners all over the country, this indispensable decision-making manual gives confused consumers the tools to make the best choice for their budget, market, emotional needs, and future.
Call Number: RCLSISBN: 9781452102535Publication Date: 2012
Sources
American Library Association. Financial Literacy in Public Libraries: A Guide for Building Collections.
My thanks go to ALA for inventing this wheel for me.
Thrall Library's Links for Investors.
CFPB's list of financial educational resources
Additional Books
The Big Short by
When the crash of the U. S. stock market became public knowledge in the fall of 2008, it was already old news. The real crash, the silent crash, had taken place over the previous year, in bizarre feeder markets where the sun doesn't shine, and the SEC doesn't dare, or bother, to tread: the bond and real estate derivative markets where geeks invent impenetrable securities to profit from the misery of lower- and middle-class Americans who can't pay their debts. The smart people who understood what was or might be happening were paralyzed by hope and fear; in any case, they weren't talking.The crucial question is this: Who understood the risk inherent in the assumption of ever-rising real estate prices, a risk compounded daily by the creation of those arcane, artificial securities loosely based on piles of doubtful mortgages? Michael Lewis turns the inquiry on its head to create a fresh, character-driven narrative brimming with indignation and dark humor, a fitting sequel to his #1 best-selling Liar's Poker. Who got it right? he asks. Who saw the real estate market for the black hole it would become, and eventually made billions of dollars from that perception? And what qualities of character made those few persist when their peers and colleagues dismissed them as Chicken Littles? Out of this handful of unlikely--really unlikely--heroes, Lewis fashions a story as compelling and unusual as any of his earlier bestsellers, proving yet again that he is the finest and funniest chronicler of our times.
Call Number: RCLSISBN: 9780393072235Publication Date: 2010-03-15
Dream Home by
. Jonathan and Drew Scott have taken HGTV by storm with their four hit shows,Property Brothers, Property Brothers at Home, Buying & Selling,andBrother vs. Brother.The talented duo's good-natured rivalry, playful banter, and no-nonsense strategies have earned the popular twins millions of devoted fans who have been anxiously waiting for a Scott Brothers book.Dream Homeis a comprehensive source, covering the ins and outs of buying, selling, and renovating a house, with hundreds of full-color photos throughout. The brothers cover numerous topics including the hidden costs of moving, savvy negotiating tactics, and determining your home must-haves. Other handy features include a calendar of key dates for finding the best deals on home products and a cheat sheet of worth-it fix-its. Look inside for a wealth of information on attaining what you want--on time and on budget.Dream Homealso includes all the tips and tricks you won't see on TV, making it a must-have resource not just for fans but for any current or aspiring homeowner.
Call Number: 643.7 SCOISBN: 9780544715677Publication Date: 2016
Real Estate Handbook by
This comprehensive reference book has been updated to reflect the country's gradually recovering real estate market. It covers virtually every aspect of buying and selling, understanding mortgages, analyzing real estate investment opportunities, getting and understanding appraisal reports, and more. The book's most important features include An up-to-date summary of federal real estate legislation and regulations An overview and general description of careers in real estate A 400-plus-page real estate glossary with A-to-Z short-entry definitions of real estate terms, financing terms, house styles and parts, and real estate organizations An extensive set of tables that show monthly mortgage payment figures calculated across a wide range of annual interest rates Facsimile real estate forms and worksheets to familiarize potential buyers with the paperwork involved in getting a mortgage and purchasing real estate Here in one volume is a compendium of facts, figures, and general information that covers virtually every aspect of today's real estate industry. Features hundreds of charts, tables, and line illustrations.
Call Number: RCLSISBN: 9780764165610Publication Date: 2013
Zillow Talk by
How do you spot an area poised for gentrification? Is spring or winter the best time to put your house on the market? Will a house on Swamp Road sell for less than one on Gingerbread Lane? The fact is that the rules of real estate have changed drastically over the past five years. To understand real estate in our fast-paced, technology-driven world, we need to toss out all of the outdated truisms and embrace today's brand new information. But how? Enter Zillow, the nation's #1 real estate website and mobile app. Thanks to its treasure trove of proprietary data and army of statisticians and data scientists, led by chief economist Stan Humphries, Zillow has been able to spot the trends and truths of today's housing market while acknowledging that a home is more than an economic asset. In ZILLOW TALK, Humphries and CEO Spencer Rascoff explain the science behind where and how we live now and reveal practical, data-driven insights about buying, selling, renting and financing real estate. Read this book to find out why: -It's better to remodel your bathroom than your kitchen -Putting the word "cute" in your listing could cost you thousands of dollars -You shouldn't buy the worst house in the best neighborhood -You should never list your house for $444,000 -You shouldn't list your house for sale before March Madness or after the Masters Densely packed with entertaining anecdotes and invaluable how-to advice, ZILLOW TALK is poised to be the real estate almanac for the next generation.
Call Number: 333.33 RASISBN: 9781455574742Publication Date: 2015
Librarian
Websites
- Buying a Home Instructional guide from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
- Find a Housing Counselor Find a federally approved agent for various independent housing services.
- How Much House Can I Afford? A calculator to help determine the maximum-price home you can afford based on your financial circumstances and preferred location.
- Making Home Affordable® Program A federal government resource to assist struggling homeowners with avoiding foreclosure.
- Mortgage Answers A starting point for answering mortgage questions from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
- Mortgage Types An overview on various mortgage type, with the pros and cons to decide which option is best for the consumer.
- My Home Freddie Mac’s resources to help consumers rent, buy, or maintain a home.
- National Rent Affordability Calculator A tool that lists available rentals in your preferred location that fit your monthly budget.
- Rent vs. Buy A guide from Freddie Mac that helps consumers decide if renting or buying is the right option.
- Shopping for a Mortgage Guidance from the Federal Trade Commission on what to look for in a mortgage.
- Avoiding Foreclosure Authoritative information from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for homeowners facing foreclosure.
- Consumer Handbook on Adjustable-Rate Mortgages An overview of adjustable-rate mortgages from the U.S. Federal Reserve Board.
- Foreclosure Resource Center A compendium of resources about foreclosure compiled by the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Includes consumer information, policy and regulatory information, and research.
- Home Equity Comprehensive information and resources on home equity from the National Council on Aging.
- Mortgage Refinancing A guide with calculators and worksheets from the Federal Reserve Board to help consumers make informed decisions about whether to refinance a home mortgage.
- National Association of Realtors Research and statistics about property markets in the United States and abroad.
- Real Estate Finance Terms A concise glossary of real estate investment terms.
- Your Guide to Reverse Mortgages Information on reverse mortgages from the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association.