Buying a home is one the biggest financial decisions most people will make in their entire lives, so it's only natural to have

questions about the process, especially for first-time home buyers.

That's why we put together our own First-Time Home Buyer's Kit. The free kit includes our Home Buyer's Handbook, a 16-page

booklet and glossary designed to provide answers to the more basic questions about buying a home; and our Gift of Knowledge

CD called Home Buying 101, a unique 60-minute interview that answers the top 20 most important questions every first-time home

buyer needs to know. Here are just a few of the 20 questions addressed in the free CD:

When you add up the tax benefits of owning a home versus renting a home, it costs no more to be a homeowner than it does to rent, in many cases.

With this in mind, why help finance your landlord's financial goals when you can own your own home and, as your equity grows, increase your savings

for the future as well?

When it comes to qualifying for a mortgage, the answer is never simply a matter of yes or no; it's a matter of when: When will you be ready to qualify?

While your credit score does affect this process, with credit repair services, government loans, and other programs and strategies, homeownership can

be a reality for anyone willing to put in the necessary time and effort.

There's a world of difference. A pre-qualification is a statement based often on unverified financial data. A pre-approval, however, is a decision to loan,

and carries a lot of weight with sellers. With a pre-approval, you are essentially a cash buyer, and not only do you know exactly how much you can

afford, sellers will take your offer much more seriously knowing you are pre-approved.