Everything you need to know before you borrow?

Unless you're sitting on a pile of cash, chances are you'll need to take out a mortgage when you're ready to buy a home. But how do you know how much house you can afford? What should you look for in a loan? What kind of paperwork is needed . . . and how do you improve your odds of getting a great rate? Mortgages 101 eliminates the confusion and stress with clear-cut answers to all your questions.

Updated to reflect the enormous changes in the mortgage market in recent years, Mortgages 101 is the all-in-one reference you've been looking for. Covering a wide range of topics — from negotiating the best deal to saving on closing costs — this revised third edition provides the latest information on:

• Application procedures
• Online lenders
• New loan and government programs
• Qualifying requirements
• Credit strategies
• Down payment assistance and zero-down options
• Guidelines for self-employed borrowers
• Bankruptcies and waiting periods
• Refinancing and home equity loans
• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rules
• The Ability-to-Repay mandate
• And much more

This is THE book you need to read before you sign on the dotted line.