There's no place like home! Ready to say goodbye to your landlord? With help from 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. Learn how to: - research thelocal market and listings - choose ahouse, condo, co-op, or townhouse - create arealistic budget - qualify fora loan you can truly afford - borrow adown payment from friends or family - protectyourself with inspections and insurance, and - negotiate andclose the deal successfully. You'll find insights from numerous real estateprofessionals--agents, attorneys, mortgage specialists, a home inspector, andmore. It's like having a team of experts by your side! Plus, read real-lifestories of over 20 first-time homebuyers.