The outcome of your first home purchase is decided before the first showing.

Budget, credit, financing, contracts, inspections, and closing are not separate steps. In the right sequence, they work together to reduce costs and control risk. Drawing on 33 years of field experience, California real estate broker Karl Chu helps first-time buyers ask the right questions, verify professional advice, and maintain control throughout a U.S. real estate transaction.

Six essential home-buying skills you'll build:

1. A realistic housing budget based on income and cash flow

2. Credit, DTI, down payment, and overseas-fund preparation

3. Buyer Representation Agreement and agent compensation negotiation

4. Control of offer price, contingencies, and escrow timeline

5. Protection from inspection, appraisal, underwriting, and wire-fraud risks

6. The first 30 days after closing and long-term home maintenance

Every page is color-coded - FACT, PRACTICE, CASE, INSIGHT, WARNING, CHECKLIST - so you can identify each type of information at a glance.

Book 1 of the TK Karl Chu Smart U.S. Real Estate Series. Also available in Spanish and Korean.