Chapter 1: Should you buy or rent? There's no easy answer. Emotions, family and personal reasons all come into play in any home-buying decision.Chapter 2: How mortgages work You can get a mortgage in many places, but they all share the same characteristics. We explain.Chapter 3: Your mortgage payment Your monthly payment is determined by the rate and the amount of the loan, but there's much more to it.Chapter 4: Paperwork and fees Prepare to gather a lot of paperwork, negotiate your loan terms and make sense of all the fees.Chapter 5: Underwriting Prepare to gather a lot of paperwork, negotiate your loan terms and make sense of all the fees.Chapter 6: Closinga It's your last chance to alter the deal, and the last chance for someone to sneak something past you.Chapter 7: Ownership, after closing You have the keys, but you're not done. Your mortgage needs periodic maintenance, too. advertisementRelated Links:Don't wait for 4 percent Extra payment saves cashRate Trend Index: April 2Related Articles:First-time homebuyersDon't wait to refinanceLooking beyond rates
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