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Refinancing Tips

Interest rates have fallen dramatically since the beginning of the year. If you haven't refinanced your home loan, now may be the prime time to do so.

Start by shopping around for the best rates and terms. Talk to at least five different types of lenders, including a credit union (if you belong to one, this is typically your least expensive way to go), a local bank, a mortgage broker, a national lender, and an online aggregator of lenders.

Look into "zero point, zero fee" loans. Once all of the fees have been stripped away, it's easy to compare the true cost of the loans. You'll This will help you save from the get-go.

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.

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The Closing Timeline

If you think you'll have loads of free time now that your offer has been accepted, think again. You'll be plenty busy from now until the closing. Barbara Buchholz reviews the timeline so you know what to expect.

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

Will Buying a Home Bankrupt Me?

Your Credit: Determining and Improving It

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.

The Closing Timeline

The Differences Between A Co-op and Condo

Doing Your Final Walk-Through

Buyer's Guide to Contracts and Forms

What to Expect on Closing Day

Process and Paperwork

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.

What To Expect After Pitching An Offer

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