A nuts and bolts guide from the author of a popular consumer website that explains real estate in a logical fashion, laying bare common fallacies and explaining where most consumers go wrong in their quest to buy their first home. Written from a point of view of helping you, the consumer, achieve a better result, make better decisions, and end up with a better property at a lower price with fewer problems. The techniques illustrated are cumulative. Applying even a few of the easiest lessons will dramatically improve your outcome. The more you apply, the better your outcome will likely be.