Focusing on ways to strategically increase personal net worth over the long term by owning a home, this comprehensive guide outlines all the key steps in the home-buying process—from finding a house, qualifying for a home loan, and negotiating the contract to attending the closing and refinancing for maximum financial gain. Including a complete history of appreciation, information on tax-return benefits, a rent-versus-own analysis, and a DIY loan calculator, this all-inclusive reference is perfect for first-time home buyers as well as existing home owners looking to move up.

Douglas Boncosky is a practicing mortgage professional who speaks on the subjects of home buying and home finance to corporations, organizations, and private groups in the Chicago suburbs. He lives in Lake Zurich, Illinois.