Closing Process

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Buying a Home

Thanks to the Internet, being an informed home buyer has never been easier. No longer are buyers completely dependent upon real estate agents and mortgage lenders when it comes to gathering information. House listings are readily available online, as are interactive tools that can estimate mortgage payments and percentage rates. If you have never bought a home before, you can find step-by-step guides to the process online. Even seasoned real estate investors can turn to the Web for news and advice, as the market is constantly evolving. Whatever your needs, the Internet is an invaluable source of information for buying a house.

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Rent or Buy?

The purchase of a home is likely the single largest transaction you will ever make. If you're ... read more »

Where to Live

Finding the right neighborhood can be just as important as finding the right home. Maybe ... read more »

Choosing a Home

As your hunting begins, you will soon find that there is no shortage of properties for sale. While ... read more »

Find Homes for Sale

There was a time when the only way to find homes for sale was through newspapers or signs in ... read more »

Find Real Estate Brokers

Whether you hire a broker to help you purchase a home is a personal decision. Some people feel ... read more »

Home Inspections and Homeowners Insurance

Now that you've found a home you like, it's time to do a little more sleuthing. As soon as possible ... read more »

Negotiating Home Prices

Negotiating the price of a home requires the same level of research and preparation you've put into ... read more »

Home Mortgages

The process of obtaining a home loan can be arduous and confusing if you're not prepared before you ... read more »

Closing Process

The day you close on your new home can be a very exciting one but if you want it to go smoothly you’ll have to prepare. We’ve found some excellent Web sites to help you be proactive and stay on top of the final stage in purchasing a home.

Dulcinea's Insight

Be ready to pay all closing costs on the day you sign for the house. This often means a visit to your bank beforehand to procure the correct form of payment. (Most contracts will specify exactly what forms of payment are acceptable.)

You will have a mound of paperwork to sign on closing day. In order to understand exactly what it is you are agreeing to, refer to Freddie Mac’s glossary of real estate terms.

Once the home is officially yours, it’s time to move. The findingDulcinea Moving Web Guide identifies the Web’s best resources for hiring movers, finding packing materials, notifying the necessary parties of your change of address, and much more.

Dulcinea's Picks

For a final look at the home before closing …

National Inspection Services gives a thorough review of things you should look for during a final walk-through of a new home.

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The Home Buyer's Information Center has this helpful article about performing a final walk-through on a house. There’s also a PDF checklist for you to print and use when you are completing this step of buying your home.

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For information on closing day …

YourMoneyCounts offers this brief yet informative walk-through of closing day. Any real estate lingo used in this article is conveniently hyperlinked to a corresponding definition. Look for other helpful personal finance articles on this site, as well as interactive calendars and tools.

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