- for dummies Series

"Far and away the best ...among tax advice books. " Los Angeles Times Packed with tips for how to benefit from new tax law changes The user-friendly guide that saves you money and makes filing a breeze Avoid the headaches that come with filing your taxes with this easy-to-understand book that demystifies tax forms, minimizes errors, and answers your most important questions. With line-by-line instructions and unbeatable year-round tax-saving tips, this handy guide lets you maximize your tax deductions this year and in the years ahead. Praise for Taxes For Dummies "The best of these books for tax novices. " Worth magazine "The most accessible and creative. Its also the best organized. " USA Today "Will make tax preparation less traumatic. " The Wall Street Journal "Sound financial advice you can use throughout the year. " The Seattle Times

Personal Finance for Dummies

by Eric Tyson

Published 24 October 1996

Expert and trustworthy advice that cuts through the jungle of statistical complexity to show you how to make easy work of your own finances, no matter what your income level.

Investing for Dummies

by Eric Tyson

Published 1 February 1996

Filled with tips for smart investing! It doesn't matter if you have $100, $10,000, or $1,000,000 to invest - Eric Tyson's "Investing For Dummies" shows you how to maximize your investment - the fun and easy way! This hands-on, down-to-earth reference cuts through the jargon and provides you with the techniques and strategies you need to make sound investment decisions based on your overall financial picture.

Home Buying For Dummies

by Eric Tyson and Ray Brown

Published 2 June 1998

Now updated — America's #1 bestselling home-buying book!

Want to buy a house, but concerned about the market? Have no fear — this trusted guide arms you with Eric Tyson and Ray Brown's time-tested advice and updated strategies for buying a home in current market conditions. You'll discover how to find the right property, make smart financial decisions, and understand the latest lending requirements and tax implications.

New to this edition — new and expanded coverage to help homebuyers take advantage of low home prices, understand the subprime mortgage crisis, obtain a mortgage, and improve credit scores
To buy or not to buy? — weigh the advantages of owning versus renting, get your finances in order, and know how much house you can safely afford
Handle financing — understand your credit rating, navigate the different types of mortgages, and complete all paperwork
Play the real estate game — find the right location and property, assemble an all-star real estate team, and make the most of the Internet's real estate resources
Let's make a deal — negotiate with finesse, make successful offers, inspect and protect your new home, and cover all your bases in escrow

"Invaluable information, especially for the first-time home buyer."
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram

"A reference you'll turn to time after time."
—St. Petersburg Times

Open the book and find:

Reasons why home prices rise and fall
Hands-on instruction for buying a home in up or down markets
How to pay the price you want
The best mortgage options
A sample home-buying contract
Pros and cons of comparable market analysis
Tips for overcoming mortgage and appraisal problems
How to cope with buyer's remorse
The best real estate Web sites

Mortgages For Dummies

by Eric Tyson and Ray Brown

Published 15 April 1999

For typical homeowners, the monthly mortgage payment is either their largest or, after income taxes, second-largest expense item. When you're shopping for a mortgage without the proper knowledge, you could easily waste many hours of your time in addition to the financial losses suffered by not getting the best loan you can. Choosing the right mortgage can help you save money for more important financial goals such as higher education and retirement. "Mortgages For Dummies, Second Edition" is for anyone who needs a loan to buy their first home, wants to refinance their existing mortgage, or would like to tap into the equity they've built up. Updated to include the very latest on every kind of loan, this friendly, easy-to-understand guide will help you: shop for the best home-purchase mortgage; overcome loan qualification obstacles; negotiate lower loan fees and closing costs; save by refinancing the house; and increase retirement income with a reverse mortgage. Once you select the right mortgage for your situation, you can explore, step-by-step, how to get the best possible deal.
"Mortgages For Dummies, Second Edition" also covers the following topics and more: determining your borrowing power; qualifying for a mortgage; locating and selecting a loan; finding the best lender and options; tackling loan paperwork; refinancing and other money makers. For most of us, the mortgage field is jammed with jargon and fraught with fiscal pitfalls. It's up to you to seek the knowledge necessary to make your mortgage process more rewarding. This handy guide shows you everything you need to know to find your way through the home financing jungle and make the best decisions possible.

Personal Finance for Canadians for Dummies

by Eric Tyson and Tony Martin

Published 19 March 2003

Take control of your finances!

The latest on how to save more, invest wisely, and plan for the future.

Do you need help managing your financial priorities? Relax! This friendly guide give you just the information you need to take control of your finances and make the most of your money. Whatever your income level, whatever you financial goals, the updated edition of this national bestseller is the Canadian sourcebook of sound financial planning.

Discover how to:

Get out - and stay out - of consumer debt. Reduce your spending Save more of what you earn Make profitable investments Buy insurance coverage that's right for you Select the best financial advisers

Get smart! @ www.dummies.com

Find listings of all our books Choose from many different subject categories. Sign up for eTips at etips.dummies.com

Praise for Personal Finance for Canadians For Dummies (R)

"One of the most comprehensive and readable guides available on the subject." - Calgary Herald

"Packed with useful information, all presented in bite-sized segments in a clear, uncluttered format." - Toronto Star

"Reaches out to everyday readers with straightforward tips and an easy-to-read format." - Ottawa Citizen

Real Estate Investing for Dummies

by Tyson Mba Eric, Eric Tyson, and Robert S. Griswold

Published 1 December 2004

'This is simply the best book on the topic' - Randall Bell, Author, "Home Owner's Manual". 'Tyson and Griswold have truly opened the world of real estate investing to all by tackling often complex issues in this easy to understand and use book. I can't think of a better way to get smart about building wealth through rental properties than to read their excellent "Real Estate Investing For Dummies!'" - Vern Hoven, CPA.Non-prime time TV is cluttered with infomercials about how you can buy non-prime real estate for next to nothing and get rich quick. Common sense should tell you that's an exaggeration. (If common sense doesn't tell you, bankers will.) Nevertheless, it is possible to get rich gradually by investing in real estate. Long term, you can expect to realize an annual return of 8 to 10 per cent a year. "Real Estate Investing for Dummies" gives you the keys to successful real estate investment, whether it's in single family homes and condos, apartments, vacation homes, commercial properties (office, industrial, and retail), raw land, or REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts).With guidance from authors Eric Tyson, MBA, a financial counselor, and Robert S.
Griswold, a veteran real estate investor, you'll discover how to: find and buy the best properties at a fair price; capitalize on opportunities such as foreclosures, no money down deals, auctions, tax sales, and more; secure financing and good mortgage terms; value, evaluate, and negotiate everything to do with real estate; work with agents and other professionals; project income potential and cash flow; and, handle contracts, inspections, and closings.Whether you're interested in a fixer supper for rental, premier office space you can lease, or a vacation home you can enjoy and rent, when you become a buyer, you also become a landlord. That means you can hear from tenants any time, night or day. It means you may not hear from them when the rent is due. "Real Estate Investing for Dummies" also helps you: find and keep good tenants; negotiate lease agreements; insure and maintain your property; and, keep good records for tax and accounting purposes. Remember, with any deal, you have to know when to hold them and know when to fold them. So "Real Estate Investing for Dummies" gives you guidelines on when and how to sell and how to reinvest to build wealth.
It also lists 10 real estate investments you shouldn't touch with a 10-foot pole. Especially if you're tempted by those late-night infomercials, that warning could save you a fortune!

House Selling for Dummies

by Eric Tyson and Ray Brown

Published 29 March 2002

If you're like most people, your biggest investment is your house. Sell your house wisely and you not only save loads of time, but you also pocket thousands if not tens of thousands of dollars more than you would otherwise. Making a big mistake in the sale of your house, on the other hand can easily cost you additional weeks perhaps even months of work and headache as well as half a year's worth (or more) of your take-home income. If you want to sell your house and don't know where to start, "House Selling for Dummies, Second Edition" can show you the way. If you've researched this topic and would like to discover more about certain aspects of selling your home, then look no further. "House Selling for Dummies, Second Edition" is a user-friendly, holistic book totally oriented to your needs as a seller. This friendly guide cuts through confusing real estate lingo and explains in plain English how to make the best possible decisions for your situation whether that decision means staying in your current home rather than selling or if it means selling through a good local real estate agent.
This updated edition can help you avoid making mistakes in your selling decisions and will ensure that you sell your home in the best way possible. This down-to-earth guide shows you how to: research your options and the personal finance ramifications of your decision to sell or not to sell, decide whether you should sell your house yourself or bring in an agent, find the right team of real estate professionals to work with, prepare your house before you put it on the market, determine the value of your house, time the sale of your house, negotiate the sale of your house, and file your income taxes after the sale of your house. "House Selling For Dummies, Second Edition" includes handy checklists, Internet resources, and a variety of tools and techniques you can use when selling a home. Here is the best way to save time, money, and your sanity when selling your home with or without an agent.