A Winning Deal When you buy a home, your goal is to present a deal that'll make everyone feel like a winner. That's tough to do, particularly if your seller isn't really ready to move and is feeling pressured to make a deal. It's also hard to do if you're in a bidding war and worry that you may be overpaying for your new home. In a hot seller's market, there's generally little reason for the seller to give you everything you want during the negotiations. In fact, you might find yourself giving the seller everything he or she wants. While you can ask the seller to fix certain appliances or problems that become known in the inspection report, be prepared for the seller to turn your request(s) down. Your best bet is to approach the negotiations in a friendly way. Using an attorney or your agent as a mediator can be helpful. Try to find some common ground that will allow you and the seller to walk away feeling good about your deal. Write a letter to the seller letting him or her know how much you love the house and how well you'll take care of it. By making the seller feel good about the deal, you stand a better chance of getting what you want. Ilyce Glink is the bestselling author of 100 Questions Every First Time Home Buyer Should Ask, and is the Managing Editor of Right at Home Daily. see more>>		Doing Your Final Walk-Through Do you know what to check on your final walk-through of the property you're about to buy? Barbara Buchholz explains the purpose of your final walk-through, what to look for, and what to keep in mind. Unless you've recently won the lottery, it's likely you'll be getting a loan to pay for your new home. Here's everything you need to know to get your application approved. From Margaret Crane, contributor to Newsweek, The New York Times and Money magazine and author of Successful Homebuilding and Remodeling: Real-Life Advice on Getting the House You Want without the Roof (or Sky) Falling In. Tax Implications of Mortgage, Property Tax and Insurance Payments How Much Can You/Should You Borrow? Knowing When It's Time to Refinance Your Home Your Credit: Determining and Improving It Will Buying a Home Bankrupt Me? Finding The Right Lender There's little chance you'll have a successful closing unless all of the details are in place. Here's some information to help you get from offer to closing without missing a beat. From Barbara Buchholz, former editor of House & Garden Guides Magazine and co-author of Porch Style and the New Homeowner's Handbook. Doing Your Final Walk-Through What to Expect on Closing Day Process and Paperwork The Closing Timeline The Differences Between A Co-op and Condo Buyer's Guide to Contracts and Forms For most, making an offer for a home is the most stressful part of the process. The information you'll find here will help you figure out everything from how much a piece of real estate is worth to how to win a bidding war. From Margaret Crane, contributor to Newsweek, The New York Times and Money magazine and author of Successful Homebuilding and Remodeling: Real-Life Advice on Getting the House You Want without the Roof (or Sky) Falling In. How to Win the Bidding War How Do You Create a Good First Offer? Figuring Out How Much The Property Is Worth Negotiating Strategies In A Buyer's and Seller's Market What To Expect After Pitching An Offer Copyright © 2009 Studio One Networks. All rights reserved.