Book Description
From the BusinessWeek bestselling author of Investing in Fixer-Uppers--a plan for building a real estate empire with little or no money down "
Fixer Jay" DeCima, the acknowledged king of fixer-uppers, delivers a much-anticipated guide to realizing financial independence through real estate investing. Written in DeCima's trademark folksy style, Start Small, Profit Big in Real Estate provides a complete two-year plan for making it big in real estate starting with little or no money of your own.
- You'll learn how to:
- Scout out properties with the highest return
- Calculate the payoff versus the effort involved in any real estate investment
- Find motivated sellers who will finance your properties
- Use leveraging and compounding to utmost advantage
- Negotiate with sellers and win every time
- Make big bucks with rental properties
Customer Reviews:
Follow Columbo's Lead.......2007-08-17
This book has the strong qualities of Jay's first book - written in a easy-going, lay-back style that makes it enjoyable to read, and it presents an eminently useful model that really works.
Jay says to avoid slick and flashy techniques because "slick is another word for slippery." He points out the gurus who formerly expounded on a wide assortment of get-rich techniques are "either bankrupt or working in gas stations." Jay advises to stick with run-down, fixer-upper types of properties. Buy low, and improve their value, and rent them out. I's a winning formula that I, and many others, have used to make money in real estate.
I particularly liked Jay's technique of taking a low key negotiation approach, like the former TV-detective Columbo when he interrogated suspects. Instead of putting the seller on the defensive, don't directly tell them what's wrong with their house. No one wants a complete stranger to come up and criticize their house. Always show respect to the seller, and have the seller tell you what's wrong with the house by asking him a series of polite questions. Listen carefully to what the seller has to say. You can learn a lot by listening. Don't be critical, never talk down to anyone. Even sellers who must sell, won't sell to you if you try to intimidate them. Jay points out that you still must diligently verify any information you get from the seller. One way to do that is to ask for their "Schedule E" tax form.
Another key to Jay's formula is turning motivated sellers into bankers. This is something that a lot of us, myself included, need to work on. If we follow Jay's advice and get the seller to finance at least part of the loan, the purchase process suddenly becomes much easier.
I also liked Jay's memo system of dealing with renter problems. In using this system, I find it simplifies my dealings with renters. If you call and tell them to do something, they forget. If they see it in writing, in an official-looking memo, they will usually, but not always, do what you ask them to do. It reduces direct contact with them and it gives you written documentation in case you later need it later to remove them from the house. I like Jay's comment "tenants don't intimidate me because they are simply no match for my landlording skills." A bold attitude that we should all aspire for.
The book does get repetitive at times, particularly in touting the benefits of having a rich lifestyle. There was maybe one too many statements about Jay going to the mailbox in his pajamas to pick up his checks.
Also, when Jay describes "carryback" financing when he sells a house, he never addresses the issue of the potential problems that you can encounter if you try to "wraparound" a loan from a bank or other traditional lending institution. If the lending institution finds out that the property has changed hands, they may "call" the loan and require immediate payback of the outstanding balance. Many off us are dealing with those type of loans, and it would have been helpful to address that issue.
Overall, there is a lot to like about this book. If offers sound advice for the new, and the seasoned, investor. The Columbo negotiating technique alone was worth the price of the book for me.
Terry Sprouse is author of the forthcoming book: "Fix 'em Up, Rent 'em Out: How to Start Your Own House Fix-up and Rental Business in Your Spare Time."
I've read this before in his other book.......2007-02-19
I loved Fixer Jay's original book, Investing In Fixer Uppers, so I was thrilled to buy his second book as soon as I heard about it. It is an ok book, but it is his original book in a new cover. Even some of the sentences are the same. It was kind of like listening to a friend who tells you the same stories without remembering that he has told you already, using the same words, gestures and inflection. I was dissapointed that there is actually no explanation for creating a 2-year plan anywhere in the book. The closest thing that I could find to a 2-year plan, was a sentence on page 8 that said, "Two years after you acquire your first property, you should have a dependable income, assuming that you're following my strategies." Then comes an analogy that investing in real estate is like kissing frogs to find a prince. I suppose that it is, but it didn't help me with a 2-year plan. If you are interested in fixing up houses to rent for income, don't hesitate to buy Jay's first book-I have read it 5 times, and am using his strategies from that book right now, having just fixed up an older house in my neighborhood. With 3 month's part time work, I now have 28k in equity, and 209.00 per month positive cashflow, on my first fix-up ever, thanks to his first book. The house was even owner financed, 2% down, and deferred payments too! (Jay's strategies) Don't bother with the 2-year plan book though, because it isn't anything new.
Start Small, Big Profits in Real Estate.......2007-01-18
The author gave "how" examples and easy to understand explainations to help you build wealth.
Good start but lacking finances........2006-12-21
This is a good beginners book to start buying, fixing and profiting from your real estate fix-up labor. The author describes very well how to find and profit from various types of properties: condos, town houses, single family, etc. The area that I thought was most interesting was the research to search and find apartments, the advise was more practical then other books. The more boring portion were the financials as I did not think anything was innovative in his approach: Buy low, fix then rent for cash flow and/or sell to profit. The author should have elaborated more on the mortgage and financing portion of real estate. If readers follow as described and if you can find the properties the 2-year plan should work.
Enjoy the read and good luck!
Start Small, Profit Big in Real Estate.......2006-02-21
This author is clearly very successful as a real estate investor and appears to have a great interest in sharing information and tactics to help new investors. His style is "down home" however my guess he is more sophisticated than portrayed in the book. I recommend this book for new RE investors.
Book Description
Expert money-making advice from the nation's leading fixer-upper guru
"Excellent book on the fixer strategy."--John T. Reed, bestselling real estate author
"Filled with practical examples of how to profit from rundown fixer-upper properties."--Robert J. Bruss, syndicated real estate columnist
Nobody wants to buy an ugly, decrepit, rundown house--which is exactly why they provide real estate investors with the best bargains! In Investing in Fixer-Uppers, nationally known real estate guru Jay DeCima reveals how investors can add thousands of dollars to the value of an "ugly" house. He discusses how to substitute personal skills for traditional down payments, strategies to profit without waiting for appreciation, and dozens of other value-adding tips.
Customer Reviews:
I can't agree.......2007-08-02
I can't agree with those who criticize this book for being like all other real estate investment books. This book is a breath of fresh air from many other real estate books! The author actually offers practical advice from his experience, and its written in a readable and humorous manner.
In particular, the author's description of the Haywood Houses purchase on pagers 16 to 25 is a good example that addresses many of the issues that new (and experienced) investors face, such as:
1.) Where do you find your investment houses? Jay found his in the newspaper. I found my first investment property in the newspaper also. It was a great fix-up bargain at $85,000 in 2002, and is a great rental property now, bringing in over $200/month;
2.) What do you do when you find a good property? Jay says "act quickly" when you find a property in neglect. Jay says houses in neglect are worth big bucks for us do-it-yourself fix-up investors. Jay's list of what constitutes an ugly property, including "unsightly yards, no painting done for years, broken down fences, unsupervised dogs & cats." This list should be taped on our walls to constantly remind investors what we are looking for;
3.) Fixing people problems. The property was overrun by scary looking people with tattoos who drank beer and worked on junk cars. The owner wanted out. Jay fixed the sort-term people problem in exchange for receiving valuable long-term benefits.
This is a useful book that I keep handy.
Terry Sprouse - author of the forthcoming book, "Fix 'em Up, Rent 'em Out: How to Start Your Own House Fix-up and Rental Business in Your Spare Time."
This book is worth $46,000.00. Here's what it did for me:.......2007-03-29
I have read this book 5 times now, and am putting his strategies to good use. Using Jay's strategies, I just fixed up an older house in my neighborhood. With 3 month's part time work, (I also teach 3rd grade) I now have 28k in equity, and 209.00 per month positive cashflow. The house was even owner financed, 2% down, and deferred payments too! (Jay's strategies). Next week, I will close on a second rental property for $46,500, and it appraises for $65,000. Some folks say Jay is too folksy, but he can be as folksy as he wants to be if his strategies get me $46,000 in equity in less than 6 months.
Good basic primer for beginners.......2006-11-22
I found this book to be a good primer for new real estate investors. Seasoned pros could find a nugget or two as well. More than anything else, DeCima's writing style, folksy as it is, is just fun to read. A good addition to your real estate library.
How much would you pay for a good tip?.......2006-01-16
For the most part I find book reveiws helpful. But I wonder about those by who expect to get the whole nine and a half yards for $12.98. If I can get one tip that may help me make thounsands $$ (and it has) for the price of a Subway lunch, then I'm ordering up. A guide to Investing in Fixer-Uppers, $12.98; Investing in yourself, priceless.
better than the rest........2006-01-12
Best RE book I've read. Read over 30 so far. This guy doesn't blow smoke up your butt like the other RE gurus.
Book Description
A classic that won Malamud both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award
The Fixer (1966) is Bernard Malamud's best-known and most acclaimed novel -- one that makes manifest his roots in Russian fiction, especially that of Isaac Babel.
Set in Kiev in 1911 during a period of heightened anti-Semitism, the novel tells the story of Yakov Bok, a Jewish handyman blamed for the brutal murder of a young Russian boy. Bok leaves his village to try his luck in Kiev, and after denying his Jewish identity, finds himself working for a member of the anti-Semitic Black Hundreds Society. When the boy is found nearly drained of blood in a cave, the Black Hundreds accuse the Jews of ritual murder. Arrested and imprisoned, Bok refuses to confess to a crime that he did not commit.
Customer Reviews:
Hmmmm.......................................2007-10-05
Sounds alot like a newer version of the book of Job. How lucky we are to live in the USA, but make no mistake our justice system is FAR from perfect. Like alot of Russian literature it is depressing but worth the read.
Brilliance exemplified.......2007-01-28
I have read other Malamud novels and come away unmoved. His collection of short stories, The Magic Barrel, was a worthy effort and served to impress me just enough to take on The Fixer at the recommendation of a trusted friend. If it is not the finest bit of writing it has been my privilege to enjoy, there is no other which comes immediately to mind that can rival its spare, incisive language nor one which conveys as does the Fixer, a soul transcendent in the face of merciless persecution. This is Nobel material. The Pulitzer and the National Book Award rightly acknowledge the quality of this singularly brilliant effort. A masterpiece! From my perspective, the references in other reviews to this novel as a Jewish novel are far too confining. To be certain, Yakov is as Jewish in his origins and thinking as he is heroic. As an agnostic whose closest ties with Judaism are however, by virtue of marriage, I nevertheless claim Yakov as a universal symbol of the sanctity of a human soul.
Propaganda Novel.......2006-05-06
I am astonished that so many people see in this book great literature. It is a well-done propaganda tale, in the manner of Ester in the Bible. It teaches nothing of the causes of anti-semitism. The only moment in the novel which rises to
Jewish literature is when the Fixer flees from the mensurating prostitute.
Of course the novel has bitterly painful monents, as when the guard "inspects" the Fixer, who answers the guard's complaint with, I haved no newspaper. Were it honest, this could have been a King Lear of modern cultural Jewish writing. It could have risen at least to the level of Kafka. Like most Jewish authors of fiction, Malamud is not honest. He elects propaganda over truth.
The fixer has energy to think of Spinoza and the chain of causality--Great, but not of the ethic of "jews matter, the rest don't" or just Jews First as opposed to Kant's notion of equality perceived on an "a Priori" basis, not situational-- what's or who's it going to help or hurt. Malamud plays softball with people who think quoting Spinoza (my favorite philosopher) is
the achievement of the ages. Kafka says "The World-Order is based upon a lie." Malamud gives the tale of the "Little Match Girl" translated into a Jewish adult male. This novel has as much to do with honesty as Alen Dershowitz's tantrums have to do with the nature of inter-cultural/religious/racial reality. But obfuscation is Dershowitz's profession. Malamud had a choice between the messy complexity of Darwin, but he chose the
simplicity of Lysenko. Party line. Stalin in Lysnko's case.
excellent novel about anti-semitism, politics.......2005-12-09
Yakov Bok is a humble Jewish fixer (carpenter) living in Russia in 1910. He leaves his small village and moves to Kiev, looking for work and a better life. His wife has left him for another man and he has no significant relations to speak of. It's a dangerous time to be Jewish, as the pogroms are widespread and practically government sanctioned. Pretending to be a gentile, Bok finds work with an anti-semite at a brickyard and moves into an area that is off limits for Jews. Things go well for a while, until a young Christian boy is killed and Bok finds himself framed for the murder.
Although there is no evidence against him, other than hysterical, unreliable anti-semite "witnesses", things look bad for Bok and he is thrown in prison to await a formal indictment.
The majority of the book covers Bok's time in prison and solitary confinement. It becomes clear the prosecution is dragging its feet, not delivering the indictiment, as they have a shaky chance of winning the case if it ever goes to trial.
It's a fast book, but a very painful and somewhat depressing one. It deals heavily with anti-Semitism. Some of the anti-semitic passages are almost breathtaking in their ferocity. It becomes very painful, at times almost (but not quite) tragi-comic. In particular, a lengthy sermon (?) given by a priest that basically likens the Jewish to vampires.
In many ways the book reminded me of "1984". A man up against the monolithic powers of the state. Not quite as imposing though, because Bok seems to grow stronger and more resiliant in his spirit even as his body and mind are broken. The prosecution repeatedly dangles a confession in his face but Bok refuses steadfastly to sign, even at the risk of triggering a pogrom. It's interesting to note that Bok is also an avowed aetheist, and stolidly refuses to seek solace in God. He reads the bible only as a way of keeping himself from going insane, and the only thing that really seems to comfort him is philosophy (Spinoza, in particular) and the philosophical concept of freedom.
Part of what is so painful is that for long stretches the entire world seems to be against him. EVERYONE he encounters is either a thug, a snitch, a backstabber (or all three!).
An excellent book. A fast read, but very painful.
My All Time Favorite Book.......2005-10-19
I have read this book no fewer than 10 times...and everytime I cry. This book was at one time banned because it was thought to be anti-semetic. I think its quite the opposite. It is a book that inspires faith in all people. It reminds me of the quote from Dante "The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who are neutral in times of moral crisis." This could be the theme for this book. Try as you might to remain neutral, but when the world is faced with tragedy and injustice...its just impossible.
Book Description
In the Make Money series, renowned real estate investor and bestselling author Gary W. Eldred shows you how to profit from the safest, most reliable wealth builder in the world-real estate. With coverage of all the fundamentals-from finding the right properties to financing and managing them-Eldred shows you the ropes so you don't have to learn important lessons the hard way. Unlike general guides to investing in real estate, each title in the Make Money series gives you the specialized expertise necessary to fully profit from a select investment strategy.
Make Money with Fixer-Uppers and Renovations shows homebuyers and investors how to build a fortune by purchasing properties at bargain prices, using creative improvements to add thousands to their value, and selling or renting them for high profits. There's almost no limit to the number of ways you can increase the value of a property-from quick and low-cost improvements like a fresh coat of paint to more extensive renovations such as multi-unit conversions or kitchen remodeling. This step-by-step guide includes the knowledge you need to combine entrepreneurial thinking with proven market analysis techniques. You'll learn to choose properties, plan improvements, and buy low and sell high. Make Money with Fixer-Uppers and Renovations will show you how to:
- Fix and flip properties for quick profits
- Buy properties with little or no money down
- Maximize your property's market value
- Exploit regulatory loopholes
- Create pizzazz for your interiors
- Add living space to your property
- Revitalize neighborhoods to increase property values
- Market your properties for top dollar
- Save thousands with owner-occupant financing
Download Description
New safe way to grow wealth
In a volatile stock market, investors need new and safer ways to grow their wealth. Make Money with Fixer-Uppers and Renovations shows investors, including beginners, how to buy at bargain prices and use market analysis techniques and creative improvements to add thousands of dollars to the value of their properties. This step-by-step guide covers all the fundamentals, including how to "fix and flip" properties, evaluate competitive properties, locate great properties at great prices, enhance space, raise cash, and learn about lease options.
Gary W. Eldred, PhD (Gainesville, FL) is a realtor who has served on the graduate business faculty at Stanford University and the University of Illinois. He is also the coauthor of Investing in Real Estate, Fourth Edition (0-471-32339-X) and author of Yes! You Can Own the Home You Want (0-471-09978-3) and The 106 Common Mistakes Homebuyers Make (and How to Avoid Them) (0-471-12658-6), all published by Wiley.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent info, but lacks some details.......2004-07-18
Make Money With Fixer-Uppers and Renovations is a creative book. It criticizes the flipping books Buy It! Fix It! Sell It! Profit! and Flipping Properties by saying they limit your thinking by telling you that the only type of properties you can get are run-down, traditional junker properties. Eldred challenges that notion by saying that the right house can be a house that feels only like a house, and not a home. He differentiates between a house and a home by saying that a house can shelter you, but doesn't excite you or move you in any way. A home is just like it sounds: a place you call home. By fixing up properties so that they feel like a home, you stand to make more money than by just fixing it up.
The book contains some very good stories and information on fixing up properties, and the information Eldred gives is well worth the price. But the information lacks real meat on how to do any of the things he's suggesting. It's like any other $19.95 book on real estate investing: you get what you pay for, and sometimes his suggestions lack detail, or feel like "top of the waves" type of techniques. If there were an upsell, you might get some kind of procedure on exactly how to invoke your local ordinances, add to neighborhood convenience, or convince a reporter to play up the neighborhood's potential for turnaround.
He also winds up providing a formula for profit in the rehab business that walks and talks a lot like the Buy It! Fix It! Sell It! Profit! formula (a book he criticizes). Apparently the formula is sound, but he believes the buying price will rarely be 60 cents on the dollar. A fair belief, but you may be able to buy it at that price; I leave it up to the investor to make that choice. (In other words, read both books and make your own decision :) ).
Despite these limitations, you do get a lot of bang for your buck. I recommend it to real estate investors who would like to expand their thinking on potential fixer-uppers.
Fantastic idea generator.......2003-10-13
As a veteran rehabber, I do not expect much that's new from most "fixer" books. But this one pleasantly surprised me. It opened my eyes to the fact that I had not come close to maxing out profits from my properties. The chapter on marketing also weighs in as solid gold. I can see why my FSBO efforts have not paid off like I thought they would. Now I know how to really sell faster and at a higher price--without paying a commission! My guess is that whether your a newbie or pro, this book will definitely guide you to make more money( or collect more rents if you choose to hold--which I do not).
Book Description
Praise for Frank McKinney
"My neighbor, Frank McKinney, is certainly a maverick and a spiritually grounded young man. The oceanfront homes he builds here in Florida are magnificent and unique. More important, Frank's life and the contributions he makes to his community and the world illustrate how a successful businessman can do well while doing good. The principles in Frank McKinney's Maverick Approach to Real Estate Success represent a road map of his achievements—a proven strategy for succeeding not just in real estate, but also in the business of life."
—Rich DeVos, cofounder of Amway, owner of the Orlando Magic
"If you're ready to make big profits in real estate, then read, absorb, and use the brilliance of Frank McKinney."
—Mark Victor Hansen, coauthor of The One Minute Millionaire
"Frank McKinney's book is an excellent how-to guide to earning real estate profits by using McKinney's maverick formulas to find undervalued real estate with profit potential. McKinney is different. This isn't another how-to-get-rich-in-real-estate book. Instead, it is the lively success story of a real estate maverick. McKinney reveals his simple strategies, with intriguing personal profit examples that explain how his repeatable techniques work over and over."
—Robert J. Bruss, syndicated real estate columnist
"If Hollywood were casting the role of a maverick who started with very little and went from a $50,000 fixer-upper to a $100 million mansion, they would choose Frank McKinney. Frank McKinney's Maverick Approach to Real Estate Success represents his approach to life. He decided to apply that approach to real estate and look what happened!"
—Kendra Todd, winner of The Apprentice
Download Description
Maverick real estate wisdom from the King of Ready Made Dream Homes, a one-of-a-kind real estate artist Frank McKinney is no ordinary real estate entrepreneur, and the mansions he creates are far from ordinary either. The world's most successful builder of on-spec luxury estate homes, he recently sold a mansion on Palm Beach's exclusive Atlantic coast for a whopping $50 million! And now, at only 41, he is undertaking his most ambitious project to date a magnificent estate he plans to sell for between $100 and $120 million! But McKinney didn't start out at the top; 20 years ago he began his career by purchasing foreclosed fixer-uppers and turning them into $50,000 homes for first-time buyers. From there he worked his way up to the luxurious, oceanfront mansions he builds today. Frank's approach has always been that of a maverick and it works. Now, in Frank McKinney's Maverick Approach to Real Estate Success, McKinney shares his real estate secrets so that every investor has a chance to become the next maverick real estate success story. Whether readers are interested in single-family homes, entry-priced fixer-uppers, million-dollar mansions, or anything in between, McKinney offers the kind of unconventional wisdom they won't learn in any seminar. Using real stories and examples from his own career, McKinney shows investors how he made it to the top and how they can too by becoming a name brand in their community and building their own market rather than following one. Offering real-world insight with a never-say-die attitude, this book shares the proven strategies of a true real estate maverick. Frank McKinney (Delray Beach, FL) is the number one developer and spec creator of ultra-luxurious residential homes in the world. He has been featured on Oprah, CBSs The Early Show, the Travel Channel, CNN, the Discovery Channel, and Paul Harvey's radio show to name a few. He is also the author of the bestselling book Make It BIG!: 49 Secrets for Building a Life of Extreme Success (0-471-44399-9).
Customer Reviews:
Honest, Truthful, Practical Advice on Real Estate Investing.......2007-09-11
Great book on how to get started in real estate by "creating your own market" I read this book cover to cover in one sitting. Frank describes how it is not easy to invest, and take risks, and do research... but this is all essential to be a success. I should know, I've done 13 properties in 4 years and a lot of what he talks about is what I've experienced. Especially, taking responsibility to market and sell your own properties, whether you use a realtor or not. This is a MUST READ for any one considering investing in real estate!
Didn't care for the book.......2007-05-07
I suppose the book has some value, but I didn't care for it. The author does get the reader to think outside the box. The book isn't like most real estate investment "flip" books written today. If you're interesting in flipping, there are several better books to get you started. If your a novice, this book is not applicable to you other than it's potential motivational aspects or feel good attitude. Spend your energy, time, and money on other flipping books.
A different approach with meticulous execution........2007-03-28
Mr. McKenney's credo has to be (to paraphrase Dan Kennedy about how to be successful in businss), "look at what all your competition is doing, and do the exact opposite". In addition to being a wonderful follow-up to McKinney's first book "Make It Big", this book gives a virtual roadmap of how to succeed in producing and selling anything, whether it be your own home or a $125 million spec luxury home (McKinney's current project). Those of us who have been around real estate for a few years know that most folks in the business have a couple of bad habits. (1) They are driven by their payday, not the customer's needs, and (2) there are few leaders; most follow the herd into the abyss. McKinney's philosophy is the opposite to the real estate norm. He demands you understand your customer, understand your property, and leave nothing to chance. In fact, this book is a great road map for succeeding in any business or in life. Now-if we can just get the big boys at Chrysler, Ford, and GM to read and understand McKinney's philosophy and execution, there may be an old-line domestic auto manufacturer left in the U.S. If you want improve your business (any type), buy the book new (to support McKinney's Caring House Foundation), and execute like he does.
Be More Successful in Real Estate by Reading This Book!.......2006-07-22
This book was excellent and included tons of information about how Frank has taken his business to an extreme level of success. It covers how he got started by dealing with tiny starter homes where he "made a market" for slightly nicer than average properties and grew it into becoming the most successful ocean front spec home developer in the country.
I took tons of information out of this book and I go to it for reference frequently, since there is so much information inside about how you can improve almost every aspect of your Real Estate Investing Business. Well done Frank! Buy this book and read it several times if you want to make more money and become more successful as a Real Estate Investor...it has helped me tremendously. Dave.
Excellent Advice From The World's #1 Real Estate Maverick.......2006-07-13
Frank McKinney's approach to real estate investing is something to be treasured. His advice on work ethic and being different may have been talked about in other books, but the part on creating your own market place alone is worth the price of admission.
Average customer rating:
- Sacco's Sarajevan Search
- One of the best books I read last year
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The Fixer: A Story from Sarajevo
Joe Sacco
Manufacturer: Drawn and Quarterly
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War's End: Profiles From Bosnia 1995-1996
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Safe Area Gorazde: The War in Eastern Bosnia 1992-1995
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ASIN: 1896597602 |
Book Description
When bombs are falling and western journalism is the only game left in town "fixers" are the people who sell war correspondents the human tragedy and moral outrage that makes news editors happy.
It’s dangerous, a little amoral and a lot desperate.
Award-winning comix-journalist Joe Sacco goes behind the scene of war correspondence to reveal the anatomy of the big scoop. He begins by returning us to the dying days of Balkan conflict and introduces us to his own fixer; a man looking to squeeze the last bit of profit from Bosnia before the reconstruction begins. Thanks to a complex relationship with the fixer Joe discovers the crimes of opportunistic warlords and gangsters who run the countryside in times of war. But the west is interested in a different spin on the stories coming out of Bosnia. Almost ten years later, Joe meets up with his fixer and sees how the new Bosnian government has "dealt" with these criminals and Joe ponders who is holding the reins of power these days...
Customer Reviews:
Sacco's Sarajevan Search.......2005-11-01
Just to be clear, this is not a graphic novel, as some people are saying. It is graphic non-fiction, or graphic reportage, occupying a gray area somewhere between newsprint, photojournalism, memoir, cartooning, and essay. Sacco's first such book on Bosnia, Safe Area Gorazde, is a classic -- and those who found it compelling will certainly want to read this account of his 2001 return to Sarajevo. Aided by a Guggenheim fellowship, Sacco returned to do followup research and find old friends to see how they were getting along in peacetime. In his attempt to learn more about the siege of Sarajevo and the and its aftermath, he reconnects with an paramilitary veteran who had been his "fixer" on his previous trip in 1995. In war zones and trouble spots throughout the world, fixers are the oil that lubricates the machinery of international journalism. They are the ones who steer journalists to the right translator, hotel, driver, interviewer, clean hooker, alcohol, location, etc. -- for a few hundred in hard currency per day.
Sacco's fixer was Neven, a Bosnian Serb who loves his city and fought in one of the many ad hoc brigades that were assembled by charismatic men in the early days of the war before a real Bosnian army was established. An outsize character, Neven becomes a kind of lens through which Sacco tries to understand the war's very confusing impact on Sarajevo. The book hopscotches between various stages of the war and the present in a kaleidoscopic jumble of images, confusing nicknames, and impenetrable mix of fact and myth. Through Neven, Sacco tells the fragmentary tale of some of the more prominent warlords (almost all of whom were shady prewar characters), and of their sometimes heroic, sometimes despicable activities during the siege. To a certain extent, they are the subject of the book, populist characters who took it upon themselves to create personal armies to fight the separatist Serbs when there was no central government or army to do so (most of the Yugoslav army supplies were handed over to Serbia following the dissolution of Yugoslavia). Of course, many of these patriotic men were also probably interested in enriching themselves, and as the war dragged on, attempts were made to incorporate them into the regular army and police and things got rather messy. As Sacco recounts, many of the "facts" surrounding various killings, atrocities, and profiteering by the warlords will forever remain obscured by the fog of war, and the need for politicians to wash their hands of those dirty times.
At the same time, what becomes increasingly interesting is the relationship between Sacco and Neven, and the plausibility of Neven's endless stories about what it was like "back then." Neven is a down and out character who owes money all over town, and Sacco clearly feels guilty about walking around with bundles of Deutchmarks, while his fixer is real-life war veteran. The subtle (and not so subtle) assaults on Sacco's wallet become a running theme, and are an interesting window on the less glamorous side of being a foreign correspondent. At the same time, as Sacco spends more and more time in Sarajevo, he meets more and more people who cast doubts on Neven's veracity. He's certainly known all over town, and certainly did fight in the war, but there's also clearly a gulf between his stories and the truth. And as a Serb, he's also somewhat of a pariah in his own home city, his apartment is seized by connected refugees, and a general antipathy for Serbs hover around him.
Ultimately, readers looking for a clear understanding of who was who, and what was what during the war, are going to be frustrated -- and are perhaps missing the whole point. This book is all about the fog of war, the strange mutations of time and place that raise certain men to power and then cast them aside, as well as the guilt and confusion of being an outsider looking in
One of the best books I read last year.......2005-04-15
A darkly violent Fellinesque riff on the Bosnian war, this "graphic novel," by Joe Sacco is a fast read, a noirish examination of the relationship between a parachute journalist and the necessary local 'fixer' who serves as a local contact and makes it possible for the journalist to drop into a foriegn country and get a story. In this case, the local turns out to be a questionable ex-fighter whose war stories are both more and less true than appearances indicate. The fixer, a troubled ex-fighter scorned by his former comrades and spurned because of his ethnic background, is a terrific character, evocative of both the unresolved issues behind the Balkan wars as well as the marginalized citizens anywhere made exiles in their own land.
Book Description
More personal finance than home improvement, this book will teach readers the art of finding the right kinds of homes to purchase; how to determine what kinds of repairs will translate into high returns; how to work with contractors or subcontractors to get the work done; and how to sell properties for a profit.
Customer Reviews:
ACHIEVES ITS AIM - INTRODUCTION.......2006-02-12
This book achieves what it sets out to do: provide a simple introduction to the topic of real estate fixer-uppers and give the beginner a guidemap of a first deal.
It walks the potential investor through the main steps, from finding and choosing a house, to inspecting it, to purchasing it, to doing the basic fixes, to putting it in the market for sale. Being a "Complete Idiots Guide", one knows what to expect, and this book does exactly what it sets out to do. It is particularly useful in giving small tips that would likely only be known by someone with much experience that has fallen into many traps.
Average customer rating:
- Very helpful and informative
- Unless you are an absolute beginner, don't waste your money!
- Excellent guide to buying and rehabbing a fixer-upper.
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Find It, Buy It, Fix It: The Insider's Guide to Fixer-Uppers (Find It, Buy It, Fix It)
Robert Irwin
Manufacturer: Kaplan Business
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Buying & Selling Homes
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Investments
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ASIN: 1419535722
Release Date: 2006-09-01 |
Amazon.com
In this era of rising real-estate and building costs, it's natural that homeowner wannabes are turning to the less expensive (though more problematic) joys of fixer-uppers. Robert Irwin is a specialist in the area of improvable real estate, and this book is a terrific primer for those do-it-yourselfers who want to save money on the house of their dreams (or turn it around for a tidy profit). Irwin pulls no punches--he starts off with a quiz to determine what manner of fixer the potential buyer is able to handle; lays out the issue of money early on, keeping it firmly at the forefront of every chapter; and includes a horror story or two just to make sure the reader isn't easily scared off. "Nothing ventured, nothing gained" seems to be his motto, however, and the venturesome handyperson will learn a lot from this book.
Book Description
Looking for a cost cffective way to join the real estate boom?
Although it's not for everyone, for those willing to accept the challenges of fixer uppers, buying and fixing up less than prime properties can be one of the most lucrative opportunities available.
This is a one stop guide for anyone considering buying or investing in houses, apartments, and commercial properties that work. You'll find loads of money saving and money making advice on how to find the best fixer uppers, inspect the properties to avoid ""money pits,"" identify ugly duckling properties that need only quick cosmetic fixes, and structure deals to achieve win-win outcomes.
Customer Reviews:
Very helpful and informative.......2001-03-13
This is a wonderful book that saved me countless dollars and hours in helping me figure out how the best way was to make my newly acquired 'fixer-upper' a dream home.
Unless you are an absolute beginner, don't waste your money!.......1998-11-03
Robert Irwin writes in general terms about things that are common sense to anyone who knows a screwdriver from a hammer. This book is strictly for someone that has not even purchased a house before. One last note; If you do buy this book, buy it from Amazon.com because it cost me four dollars more at my local book store!
Excellent guide to buying and rehabbing a fixer-upper........1998-10-15
This is a step-by-step guide to buying and rehabbing a handyman's (or woman's) special. Real estate expert Robert Irwin shows you how to decide if you're the right person for the project. If so, you'll learn how to locate a property, check it out, become its proud owner, then assemble your "dream team" of plumbers, electricians, and other contractors. You'll also find lots of helpful advice on estimating costs, financing the deal, and deciding what parts of the many projects to tackle yourself.
Book Description
Bestselling authors and popular speakers Bill and Pam Farrel provide readers with a tool chest of communication skills for do–it–yourselfers who want to get the most out of their marriage. HGTV watchers and Better Homes and Gardens readers will quickly connect with the home–improvement theme as the Farrels show couples how to...
- strengthen the foundation of their family
- inspect their marriage for hidden weak spots
- protect their relational investment with consistent maintenance and improvement
Filled with practical advice, biblical insights, and the Farrels’ trademark warmth and wit, this manual is perfect for newlyweds as well as longtime marriage partners as they turn their fixer–upper marriage into the relationship of their dreams.
Customer Reviews:
The Fixer-Upper.......2006-07-07
This is a wonderful book for couples who are trying to reconnect. The personal anecdotes of the authors help one realize that many couples at some point face the same difficulties within their marriages. My husband and I have found the suggestions and activities worthwhile and successful for improving the quality of our relationship. I highly recommend this book for couples who seek a God-centered fix or "spruce up" for their marriages. I also recommend participation for women at a Hearts-at-Home conference, where Pam Farrel will speak about many relationship issues (visit hearts-at-home.org for upcoming conferences and speakers).
Renovate your marriage.......2006-05-28
We are so enraptured by programs that fix up our exteriors--our homes and our outward appearance. What really counts, however, is what's inside--who we are as people. Bill and Pam Farrel have passionately dedicated themselves to helping married couples have the best marriage possible--with God's help. I love this book, because it's filled with practical hands-on helps I can remember to put into practice daily to make my marriage even better than it already is. I recommend it highly!
Help for ALL Marriages.......2005-05-18
When it comes to helping people 'fix' their marriages, the Farrells are the ones to call upon. Their new book provides inspiration, practical
'tools' and down-to-earth examples that any couple can relate to. I recommend this to every married couple, whether or not your relationship needs an update!
EVERY marriage IS a fixer upper!.......2005-05-05
Bill & Pam have done it again! They are awesome communicators about marriage. This book will help fix and strengthen marriages with its clear, honest, and humorous approach! Even your husband will want to read it-no matter whether he's like Bob Vila or Tim-the-Tool-Man-Taylor.
Book Description
Han Ong has written a brilliant exploration of race and class, of character and identity, and of the slippery natures of privilege and expertise. William Paulinha, a Filipino street hustler, is in the early days of self-imposed reform when he meets Shem C. A failed writer now ostracized by his wife and New York City's literati, Shem recruits Paulinha to retaliate against the community that has spurned him. Under Shem's guidance, Paulinha becomes Master Chao, a revered practitioner of Feng Shui-the Chinese art of creating a harmonious environment. As this latter-day confidence man cuts a swath through upper-crust society, his biting observations form a comic picaresque of class resentment and revenge.
Customer Reviews:
Underneath it All, Were All Pretty Much the Same.......2004-04-25
William Paulinha is an aimless, Filipino street hustler in New York who's done plenty of menial jobs, including turning tricks in the Port Authority men's room. Then one day he's given a chance to improve his lot by Shem C, an embittered social-climbing writer, who wants revenge on the uppercrust of Manhattan's elite who have rejected him. Under Shem C's guidance and armed with the knowledge from a few library books, William is transformed into Master Chao, a revered Feng Shui practitioner from Hong Kong. William, as Master Chao, performs Feng Shui ceremonies to harmonize the homes and the lives of his clients and before long Manhattan's loftiest poets, writers, editors and bankers are all clamoring for his advice.
As the scam escalates, the line between truth and untruth starts to blur. William becomes Master Chao in his mind. His original class envy and disdain is replaced by his desire to belong. Is it really a scam if he believes in it himself? Has the Feng Shui con of the century turned on him?
With caustic wit, Mr. Ong paints a picture of the foolishness of keeping up with the Jones's, but he also shows his readers that underneath even a pile of wealth, people are pretty much the same in this novel that I couldn't put down.
Andy Raven, Raving United Fan
Dark, Funny, Touching.......2004-03-02
The Fixer Chao is one of those books that you never want to put down, but force yourself to, lest it be over too quickly. Funny, dark and touching with out being trite or manipulative, the story is an entertaining ride with a lead character who, despite his faults, is completely engaging. Ong manages a vivid, descriptive style without the reader ever feeling like he or she is being bombarded with superfluous, flowery language. The result is that the atmosphere, setting, and personal quirks of each character wash over you with ease. As to the ending, despite what others have said, I found it completely satisfying. Was it the ending I expected? No. Was it the ending I wanted? No. It was, however, true to the story and the characters and any other "happier" ending would have seemed out of place and forced. A stand-out book.
Strangely appealing.......2002-09-15
This book has ebbs and flows. In the beginning, I really liked the portrait of seedy New York, then it dragged for a while, then I liked it, and finally I was lukewarm about the resolution. Overall, though, it was enjoyable, funny, and thoroughly without redeeming characters.
William Paulinha (aka Master Chao) reads a few books on feng shui so that he can con the rich effetes out of their money. Interestingly, he really believes that feng shui works, so sometimes he uses this power for evil when arranging people's houses. There are several very funny scenes about interior decorating, snobby parties, and Chao's observations about human nature.
The problem with the book, which I ultimately enjoyed, is that there are no characters to like much at all ... if that's a problem for you. If you want a funny, cutting, not nice view of the world, then step right up to Fixer Chao.
Clever, funny and believable........2002-05-30
Takes a thoroughly accurate stab at Manhattan snobbery and what it means to be 'in'. The story is unpredictable, the characters captivating, the finale satisfying and strangely hopeful.
Sharp, witty and entertaining.......2002-02-04
Han Ong has a wonderfully witty and fresh way of expressing himself, using words like caresses as well as lethal weapons. "Fixer Chao" is part social commentary, part intigue, and completely entertaining. The characters are so well drawn that you truly feel the underlying emotions that are not necessarily stated. A true pleasure to read, and thus highly recommended.
Books:
- Stolen Lives: Twenty Years in a Desert Jail (Oprah's Book Club)
- Sunset Western Garden Book
- Surviving in Silence: A Deaf Boy in the Holocaust, The Harry I. Dunai Story
- The Children of Willesden Lane: Beyond the Kindertransport: A Memoir of Music, Love, and Survival
- The Collected Stories of Isaac Bashevis Singer
- The Complete Maus: A Survivor's Tale
- The Complete Maus: A Survivor's Tale
- The Destruction of the European Jews
- The Division Street Princess: A Memoir
- The Famous Mr. Ed: The Unbridled Truth About America's Favorite Talking Horse (30th Anniversary Collector's Edition)
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