At Better Lifestyles, we take a different approach to finding you a home. We want to find you not only a home, but a place where you can call home for many different reasons .... a place where you can enjoy the many better things in life. The following links contain articles that are set up to be a tutorial, taking you step by step through the home buying process.

Don't Buy a Car - or Did You Already Buy One? When Income Grows and You Want to Buy "Stuff" Debt-to-Income Ratios and Car Payments How Buying a Car Reduces Your Purchase Price
Things Not To Do Before Buying a Home No Major Purchases of Any Kind Don't Move Money Around Should You Change Jobs? .
Reasons to Delay Buying a Home
Why Buying a Home is a Good Idea The Best Investment Income Tax Savings Stable Monthly Housing Costs Forced Savings Freedom and Individuality
The Business Cycle and Buying a Home Recession and Expansion Supply and Demand Should You Try to "Time the Market"? .
What's More important -  Buying a House?  Or a Home?
Why Search for A Realtor? Finding an Agent by "Accident" Listing Agents vs. Selling (Buyer's) Agents  Should You Call the Listing Agent? Agent's Advertising - Is the Purpose What You Think? Finding Your Own Realtor Some Basics About the Search How to Conduct the Search Interviewing A Good Realtor When the Agent Asks You for an Appointment
Buying a Home With Resale Value - Location Location, Location, Location? Location - Local Community, Town or City Location - the Local Neighborhood Location - the Residential Neighborhood
Buying a Home With Resale Value - the House A Home With a View? Lot Choice and Landscaping House Size Bedrooms & Bathrooms Closets, Garage & Laundry Kitchen Fireplaces Swimming Pool?
Comparable Sales and Your Offer Price Determining Your Offer Price Comparable Sales in the Public Record Comparable Sales in the Multiple Listing Service Comparable Sales - Pending Transactions
Factors Affecting Your Offer Price How Property Condition Affects Your Offer How Home Improvements Affect Your Offer   How Market Conditions Affect Your Offer   How Seller Motivation Affects Your Offer   The Final Decision on Your Offer Price
Offering to Purchase Real Estate- the Basics Introduction and Overview Contingencies in a Purchase Offer Earnest Money Deposit   The Closing Date   Transfer of Possession
Writing an Offer - Safeguards Regarding the Property Disclosures From the Seller Condition of the Property Upon Transfer Inspections You May Require   Final Walk-Through Inspection
How Financing Details Affect Your Offer Down Payment Interest Rate Closing Costs and Financing Incentives   Seller Financing   Cash Offers
How FHA and VA Financing Affects Your Offer Extra Costs for the Seller More Detailed (and expensive) Appraisals
You and the Seller Must Agree on Some Services Settlement and Escrow Title Insurance Companies   Termite and Pest Inspections
Buyer's Remorse- Did You Make a Huge Mistake?