Complete Idiot's Guide to Buying and Selling a Home

Book excerpt: Home is where the heart is. You're no idiot, of course. But this real estate stuff has you really confused. And sometimes you just want to throw up your hands and say, Oh, give me a home—any old home! Don't settle for a shotgun shack! Whether you're on the market for a new place or want to unload your old abode (or both), The Complete Idiot's Guide to Buying and Selling a Home, Fourth Edition, will help make the whole process less painful. Shelly O'Hara has written more than 30 books including the three previous editions of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Buying and Selling a Home. She works closely with real estate agents and specialists in the real estate market. Nancy D. Lewis is a freelance editor and author of numerous books on lifestyles topics. She is also a multiple home buyer and seller. Learn more about. Getting your home ready to sell. How to decide what to ask for your home. Understanding a sales contract. Fixed-rate, adjustable-rate, and two-step mortgages. The best ways to market and show your home. What to do if you don't get any offers. What happens at closing from a buyer's and seller's perspective. The tax implications of buying or selling a home. The benefits of refinancing and how to go about it.