Mortgages For Dummies »

Eric Tyson, MBA, is a financial counselor and the author of numerous bestselling For Dummies books on personal finance, investing, real estate, and small business.

Ray Brown has been a real estate professional for more than three decades. He hosts a real estate show in San Francisco.

The proven guide to getting the best mortgage — and surviving today's lending crisis

Need a mortgage, but worried about the hostile market? Bestselling authors Eric Tyson and Ray Brown give you proven solutions for obtaining a mortgage, whether you want to buy your first home, refinance, or tap into your equity. You get the latest on subprime and adjustable-rate mortgages, finding the best lender, avoiding fiscal pitfalls and foreclosure, and much, much more!

• Why this book is different — two real estate experts give you objective, jargon-free advice that takes into account your financial goals
• Fine-tune your finances — evaluate your expenses, calculate what you can afford, and improve your credit score
• Find the right loan for you — from fixed- and adjustable-rate to 15- to 30-year to conforming and jumbo, weigh all your options
• Choose the best lender/broker — interview and work with the cream of the crop, compare programs, and negotiate loan terms
• Consider special situation loans — from home equity to co-op to balloon loans, understand the tax consequences and legalities
• Handle refinancing and reverse mortgages — decide if you should explore these options, crunch the numbers, and save money
• Get helpful resources — recommended mortgage Web sites, loan amortization tables and comparison worksheets, and more

Open the book and find:

• How to qualify for a mortgage
• Ways to lower your interest rate
• Updated worksheets and tools for calculating mortgage costs and payments
• New information on foreclosures
• Tips for saving tax dollars
• Interview questions to ask lenders/brokers
• Expert guidance in completing all paperwork
• The dos and don'ts of using the Internet

Booknews

Offers a complete mortgage reference. Explains refinancing, conventional and balloon loans, and reverse mortgages, and gives advice on how to overcome loan qualification obstacles, how to negotiate lower loan fees and closing costs, and how to shop among lenders online. Includes reader-friendly cartoons, icons, a glossary, and reference appendices. Tyson is the author of several books on home buying and personal finance. Brown is a veteran of the real estate profession, and currently hosts a radio show on real estate. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Part I: Fine-Tuning Your Finances.

Chapter 1: Determining Your Borrowing Power.

Chapter 2: Qualifying for a Mortgage.

Part II: Locating a Loan.

Chapter 3: Fathoming the Fundamentals.

Chapter 4: Selecting the Best Home Purchase Loan.

Chapter 5: Special Situation Loans.

Part III: Landing a Lender.

Chapter 6: Finding Your Best Lender.

Chapter 7: Maneuvering through the Options Maze.

Chapter 8: Tackling Loan Paperwork.

Part IV: Refinancing and Other Money Makers.

Chapter 9: Refinancing Your Mortgage.

Chapter 10: Reversing the Process.

Part V: The Part of Tens.

Chapter 11: Ten Issues to Consider Before Prepaying Your Loan.

Chapter 12: Ten Tips for Using the Internet's Mortgage Sites.

Chapter 13: Ten Mortgage No-No's.

Part VI: Appendixes.

Appendix A: Loan Amortization Tables.

Appendix B: Remaining Balance Tables.

Appendix C: Glossary.

Index.

Book Registration Information.