Book Description
Find the sound investments among the foreclosures. Covering both bank-owned and government-owned properties, this book focuses on helping buyers distinguish between good foreclosure investments and those plagued with liens and other pitfalls. Readers will learn about the benefits of buying foreclosures; foreclosure timeline and process; the different types of foreclosures; finding pre- foreclosed properties; important pre-purchase pitfalls; buying at an auction; and more.
• The national residential foreclosure rate rose to from 1 to 1.23% (of all mortgages) by the end of 2003—the biggest jump in 30 years
• Foreclosures are expected to increase as interest rates rise and monthly payments on short-term variable rate and interest-only loans begin to follow (Realty Times)
Customer Reviews:
CID Guide to Buying Foreclosures.......2007-05-06
Sunday, May 6, 2007
For a newbie, this is an excellent introduction. It shows you the way to proceed, if you're serious about trying. For the price, it is a bargin and should be kept as a reference. If you're like me, a yellow lighter can be quite helpfull. Well worth the price when you consider the large sums of money that can be involved.
Very Insightful.......2007-03-10
This is a very informative book. It doesn't mess around with a lot of fluff. I highly recomend it!
Provides solid information worthy of the Complete Idiot Guide series.......2007-01-22
I've always enjoyed the Complete Idiot Guide series. Why? Because it delivers the message down to earth. It takes highly complexed legal matters and shows you step by step on how to invest in foreclosures. If you want to make money in foreclosures or have wanted to invest in them, you need to read this book.
Matt
Illustrator for the Ultimate Foreclosure Kit (ISBN 0978834658)
READ ME FIRST - A comical and resourceful guide.......2006-11-13
This is a comical and resourceful guide to foreclosures, offering an easy to read handbook on how to invest in govt or bank foreclosed properties. Other titles that helped me about foreclosures -- Investing With out Losing: The Beginner's Guide to Real Estate Tax Lien and Tax Deed Auctions
Provides good information for getting started.......2006-11-07
Provides a large amount of information in a concise but easy-to-read format. Considering all of the nuances of buying foreclosures, from the legal considerations to the occupation stage, the author does a good job of capturing and conveying the essentials. The author also does a good job of communicating both public and private foreclosure opportunities, which is important in many states.
The author focuses primarily on 'investing in foreclosures' vs. 'buying a foreclosure for your primary residence.' Consider this when comparing to other books.
Could have used more specific information on where to look for foreclosure opportunities, but the book does mention that actively searching and networking is a key to the game.
Overall, a good, easy read with valuable information for anyone wishing to enhance their real estate expertise.
Book Description
The procedure of buying a home can be a scary experience. There are a lot of people to deal with, from realtors to attorneys to bankers. There's tons of paperwork with terms and vocabulary that read like a foreign language. In this new book you will find vital information and great strategies that will allow you to find your dream home faster and feel confident about the purchase. You will learn to avoid some of the most prevalent—and potentially dangerous and expensive—mistakes made by first-time home buyers.
According to Money Magazine, "Over the past five years, home values nationally have risen 65 percent while the stock market has fallen." Now is the time to get into the real estate marketplace. With the help of this comprehensive new guide, you will learn how to find the best opportunities, negotiating, financing, budgets, needs and wants, credit reports, home-buying timeline, the process of building a house, manufactured homes, real estate and mortgage glossaries, setting values, home warranties, homeowners insurance, creative financing, buying with little or no money down, closing, moving plans, walk-throughs, closing and settlement inspections, legal contracts, mortgages, what you can afford, deciding which neighborhood to choose, hiring a realtor, which government agencies can help, considerations for veterans, IRA use, hiring an attorney, the offer, calculating monthly payments, and escrow.
This comprehensive resource contains a wealth of modern tips and strategies for financing and closing on a property. The author shows readers how to find out how much they're really worth, how to uncover unknown assets, and how to enhance credit ratings within six months, provides information and suggestions on everything from no-down-payment mortgages to finding the right agent. It leads you down the path to home ownership, one step at a time. Though you may be relatively cash-poor or have a less-than-perfect credit rating, you can acquire a mortgage and find the house you've always wanted.
Customer Reviews:
Fantastic Information.......2007-08-27
I just recently finished it and I feel like having taken a course on Real Estate 101. It is helpful, practical, and easy to read. It has great tools like check-off lists and sample contracts all on a complimentary CD.
We are looking into buying a house and this has given me a great base of knowledge to start making smarter decision.
Worth the $$.
excellent advice for all homebuyers.......2007-01-11
Though this book's title specifies that it's for the first time buyer, my advice would be to pick it up and read it thoroughly regardless of how many times you've bought or built. It is a super compendium of all the steps a buyer needs to take, including information on motivation and emotions in home buying, taxes, paperwork, hiring a professional advocate such as a lawyer or real estate agent, and an in-depth discussion of how to find out your credit score. The section on credit also gives good advice about establishing and maintaining a good credit score that would be helpful for anyone trying to finance a large purchase. The information in this book should be available from the real estate agent you're working with, but it's good to know it yourself in case the agent isn't keeping your well-being in mind at all times.
I also appreciated the straightforward, matter-of-fact tone of this book. There were no embellishments, just the information in a logical, easy to understand format. It also includes a 15 page glossary, helpful for the novice. Five stars out of five.
Feel Confident Buying Your First Home.......2006-12-21
First off, let me say that my husband and I really appreciate the CD. It has all the forms and lists we needed to feel confident when we bought our first home. From building costs and budget worksheets, to banking support, these documents were a big help.
From why you want to own your own home, what to do when you find the one you're looking for, and what to expect at closing, this handbook walks you through the process. This step-by-step guide shows you how to fill out the attached forms and gives you confidence that is sure to eliminate any buyer's remorse you would have felt after your purchase.
Overall, the book was very helpful and will be a useful tool for anyone going through the process for the first time. Buying your first house doesn't have to be scary. This handbook makes the process an understandable and exciting experience.
Even building your own house is examined in this excellent, wide-ranging guide recommended for its easy explanations........2006-12-12
The First-Time Homeowner's Handbook: A Complete Guide and Workbook for the First-Time Home Buyer comes with 30 forms on a convenient cd-rom and covers the entire experience of buying a home, from understanding terminology and confusing points to avoiding common, expensive mistakes. Chapters cover the basics from how to look and assess to financing and closing. Even building your own house is examined in this excellent, wide-ranging guide recommended for its easy explanations.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
Exceeded my hopes and expectations.......2006-11-09
I was a little nervous about buying yet another book on how to buy my first home. After all, if I had spent all the money I spent researching the concept on my down payment... Well, ok may that's a bit of an exaggeration. I was still skeptical I could learn anything new, but I was wrong. This book is different from other guides in that it provides accessible information for me, the everyday Joe Q. public person. I don't have a trust fund to take care of my bills, my credit isn't pristine for the past billion years, and my credit-to-debt ratio reflects 8 years of college from a working class environment. Yet, this book gave me answers, strategies, and lots of helpful information that was more than just hope. It made it seem possible. Nothing is just glossed over; rather there are comprehensive guides, tools, and strategies to make owning your own home a reality. The forms included on the CD are a bonus as well! And in PDF format for a win so it's simply filling it out on screen, printing and moving forward with no excuses left! I can't wait till I finally close!
Book Description
The ultimate sales skill.
Without the right techniques, it's tough to get a warm reception when you're cold calling clients. This perfect source for business people offers advice on how to approach prospective customers with confidence, without fear of rejection, and with enough savvy to keep them on the phone long enough to initiate business deals and increase profits for their companies-and themselves.
Customer Reviews:
The Real Deal Book on Cold Calling.......2007-08-12
I am one of those rare folks who enjoys cold calling but I picked up this book as a companion to Closing the Sale. This is an excellent read that can better you best results or turn around your cold calling (lack of) success. In short, this is the real deal.
With Keith by Your Side, Cold Calling Works!.......2007-08-09
Despite what some talking heads may say, cold calling works. I've read both the "anti-cold calling" books as well as Mr. Rosen's books, and I can say that the arguments clearly lean in Mr. Rosen's favor. The "never cold call again" groups really address similar stuff that Mr. Rosen does, which leads me to believe that their position is more a matter of savvy marketing, driven to sell books, rather than anything revolutionary.
With that said, cold calling doesn't work...that is, unless you have a method that provides you with measurable results. And that's precisely what Mr. Rosen's book gives you. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Cold Calling, is one of those essential books that never has a chance to rest on a shelf and collect dust.
In my experience, I was stuck. I had been cold calling for a couple of years and found myself in a telemarketing quandary. Mr. Rosen's book couldn't have come at a better time. He combines a precise, no-nonsense message with words that are easy on the eyes. His book is equal parts practical guide and motivational tool. I particularly appreciated the time he commits to the psychology of selling. The emphasis on process goals (a book he should write next) is a new look at the outcome-driven goals that many of us were taught to follow.
I read Mr. Rosen's book and committed time to completing his exercises and following his techniques. Two weeks later, I scheduled five qualified appointments. Why do I say "qualified"? Before I read his book, I focused on setting up the appointment. I'd meet with prospects, but after all the driving and time spent in an office, often, the only thing I had to show for my effort was a wrinkled shirt that required dry cleaning. Using Mr. Rosen's book as a guide, matters quickly turned around for me. I met with people that were ready to close because I qualified them over the phone. I wish I had his book three years ago. (To think of all the gas I would have saved!)
If you've doubted your skills, needed some fresh ideas, or are new to the cold calling process, buy The Complete Idiot's Guide to Cold Calling. Once you do, you'll soon have a book that has a worn down spine, pages loaded with Post-its, and a cover that refuses to stay shut--just like mine.
Idiot's Guide to Cold Calling Review.......2007-07-28
This is a good book for those who are just beginning their cold calling career. It provides good techniques as well as outlooks on the reasons for cold calling. I would recommend for any novice cold-caller just getting started. However, for those who loathe cold calling, but realize the necessity of it in their business, I would HIGHLY recommend Wendy Weiss's Cold Calling for Women.
complete idiots guide to ccold calling.......2007-05-30
the best cold calling book out there. Really changed how I view about cold calling. I hated it before. Was truly stuck and terrorized by the phone. Very easy to read.
A must read if you set sales appointments over the phone........2006-12-23
As a sales professional with over 20 years of sales experience I've read many books on various sales issues I can say this is one of the best and most useful. I'm always looking for fresh ideas and Keith Rosen has really done a fantastic job in covering all the aspects of cold calling. Compared to all of the other books on cold calling this is the best I've read.
Keith's approach to the call and the to the process itself are completely professional and teaches you how to be respectful to the person on the other end of the phone. If you follow the techniques that Keith outlines you will have better success in securing more quality appointments with more prospects.
Book Description
A PAPERBACK ORIGINAL
The first simple guide to understanding the real estate closing process
Closing and escrow are among the most importantand least understoodcomponents of a real estate transaction. The Complete Guide to Your Real Estate Closing takes the mystery out of the confusing, expensive process by giving real estate professionals, investors, and consumers a step-by-step explanation. In simple, everyday language, the book explains closing documents and paperwork, what to do when something goes wrong, mortgage options, how to save money on title insurance, problems that can occur on a title report,
and much more. With sample forms, work sheets, and more, this sophisticated but accessible book covers:
- Insider tips on how to save moneyfrom a closing professional
- Who does what: the real estate agent, lender, title company, closing officer, attorney
- State-specific information for all 50 states
Customer Reviews:
Could be better.......2006-03-22
Very good book; could have gone a little deeper into the mechanics of the closing process.
Practical, Real-World, Current Information.......2005-10-10
This book is an easy to read, step-by-step guide through that 'magical' period called 'Escrow.' Explanations are easy to understand yet thorough. I highly recommend this book.
Complete and Easy to Read........2005-01-11
Sandy Gadow's real estate closing book explained the part of the buying process which confuses most people, and where most of the costly mistakes can occur. I was able to understand the concepts and explanations which are provided, and felt confident enough to ask questions which I am sure saved me several hundreds of dollars. Before reading Sandy's book, I was intimidated by the professionals involved in a closing: for example, the attorney and closing agent, even the inspector involved. Knowing what questions to ask, I felt comfortable making lists of questions to ask, and which answers I needed. Although real estate laws vary state to state, this book does an excellent job of being all-inclusive for each state. Whether called "escrow", "closing" or "settlement", this book covers the essentials of a real estate deal.
In each chapter are "Tips" and "A Typical Misunderstanding" which lighten the reading and make the subject matter easy to follow along. The chapter on handling Tax-Deferred Exchanges was a welcome addition to the book. I was prompted to buy Sandy's book after watching her on CNN's show, "Open House."
I would recommend this book to anyone buying property, considering entering the escrow profession, or anyone interested in the investment aspect of real estate. I am now a real estate professional and am grateful for Sandy's book. I know the book helped me and I have recommended it to many of my friends and colleagues.
Good book, but...........2005-01-04
...it's the same book as her previous books - only the title has changed. If there were any minor editing done to the book, I didn't notice. If you've read or purchased one of her previous books don't waste your time or money.
Truth in Advertising.......2004-11-08
Gadow does an excellent job of providing a comprehensive view of a California Real Estate Closing. The subject matter is appropriate and well written. The illustrations, tables, charts and forms all useful. The only real problem with a volume like this is that all real estate is essentially LOCAL in nature.
Thus, many of Gadow's points and concepts are inapposite to other parts of the country. I found myself annotating my copy with local exceptions to Gadow's statements (I am a Real Estate Attorney in the Washington, DC metropolitan area). As with any volume with this much information there are certain errors that may have not been caught by the editors. For example, Gadow talks about obtaining multiple termite inspections. "Shopping for a clean termite inspection" and failing to disclose the known existence of termites is a patent violation of the Seller's duty to disclose known defects and could subject the homeseller to serious liability for any resulting damages incurred by the buyer.
Nevertheless, for the layman this book is an essential resource and I wish everyone of my clients would read it before coming to our office for their settlements.
Book Description
Book Description
Selling Used Books Online is a comprehensive how-to bible for America's newest and fastest growing group of entrepreneurs, the sellers on Amazon Marketplace and other online venues. Author Stephen Windwalker, a successful online seller himself who has also operated a brick-and-mortar bookshop, provides a treasure trove of up-to-date information with verve, clarity, and wit.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has reported that the number of third-party sellers on his company's website grew from over 100,000 in the fourth quarter of 2001 to over 150,000 in the first quarter of 2002, and roughly one-third of these appear to be entrepreneurial sellers who are operating full- or part-time businesses in competition with each other, with Amazon, and with very large Amazon Marketplace sellers such as Powell's, the Strand bookstore, and Alibris. For these 50,000 entrepreneurs, Selling Used Books Online will be a powerful business resource that will help them level the playing field, stay in business, and prosper.
Selling Used Books Online meets the needs of booksellers and business readers who want to stay current on market changes, best sources, insider's tips and tactics, and best practices, and is also a essential addition for public libraries, the small business and entrepreneurship market and related agency and educational markets, and publishing industry and bibliophile readers. Back matter includes several useful appendices that online booksellers will use on a daily basis: a glossary, a list of standard bookseller abbreviations, a casual bibliography of resources on bookselling and collecting, and an online bookseller's "Rolodex."
The Most Up-To-Date Book In Its Field, Covering:
· THE BOOKSELLING BUSINESS· SUPPLIERS AND SOURCES
· WHERE TO GET YOUR BOOKS
· WHAT BOOKS TO GET
· WHERE TO SELL YOUR BOOKS
· GRADING AND DESCRIBING YOUR BOOKS
· POSTING AND PRICING YOUR BOOKS
· ORGANIZING YOUR BUSINESS AND HANDLING TAX ISSUES
· FULFILLMENT AND CUSTOMER SERVICE
· EXPANSION ISSUES AND FUTURE PLANS
· HANDY REFERENCE TOOLS YOU WILL USE EVERY DAY
Customer Reviews:
This book is a "must have" for any new bookseller!.......2007-10-05
This book is a "must have" for anyone learning to sell online. It answers every question a new seller may encounter. I just started selling online and this book has really helped me! I keep it by my computer and reach for it every day! I want to give the best service possible to my customers and what a better place to learn the "best practices" than from a successful bookseller! Thanks to Stephen Windwalker for writing this book!
An Informative but Outdated Book.......2007-10-04
There is a lot of information in this book, particularly if you are new to selling online. That being said, however, there much information that was also missing. In particular, the use of selling aids when scouting for inventory. I would recommend Christine Miller's book for further insight. Her book really did take me up to the next level of my business.
great great book.......2007-09-29
Lot's of useful info packed in here. I little outdate maybe as far as the online selling goes, but the info has so far been right on the money for me!
A Good Book but Not Enough to Ensure Success .......2007-07-08
I can't complain about this book, it helped me get started. After running the gambit of get rich quick scams and schemes, I started selling used books on Amazon, and made more than $20,000 my first year. So, if your skeptical about whether or not this is a real business opportunity, don't be. It really works! However, there are some things, like the history of online selling, that some of us don't have time for, and so many of the early books (including this one), don't cover all of the tools available to help sellers find and buy top-dollar books. Because of this, a few years into my success, I ended up writing my own guide, to discuss things I found lacking in other books, sparing no secrets I've learned along the way. Windwalker's book, and others, contain many step-by-step directions, and sample confirmation letters, etc., so all the set-up work is done for you. But, I haven't found a book that includes real life examples, of successful sellers, and their business/buying models. So, I decided to include profiles of different sellers and their techniques and strategies, along with a comprehensive list of real book titles, and keys to help the newcomer learn to identify books that you can buy-low and sell-high. This is one of the biggest keys to success, yet, even after reading some of the best books available, most of us start out with a few paragraphs about identifyng top-dollar books, that are sitting right under our nose at used bookstores, Goodwill, Friends of Library Stoes, and you name it. I'm sorry to ultimately be plugging my own book, when this book helped me get started and is a first rate book, but I did my best to make sure my books was the most inclusive and the information tangible, gearing it to the stay-at-home mm, because it's developed to make the most money in the least amount of time (which are two things mom's are short of), but this quality ultimately makes it perfect for anyone wanting to make the money it takes to sustain yourself and your family with a home-based, low-risk, low-overhead, low-investment, high-profit business.
Christine Miller author of How to Sell Used Books on Amazon: The Stay-at-Home Mom's Secret Step-by-Step Guide (from setting up your account, to navigating the website, contacting customers, finding, recognizing, and selling top-dollar books, and much more)
Outstanding Book for Amazon Book Sellers.......2007-05-17
This book gave me clear ideas on how to set up a book selling business. There were also many helpful tips on how to improve a business that is already going. I would buy it again.
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
"The Complete Guide To Raising Pet Birds For Profit, The Greatest Backyard Business Ever" is written as a practical guide for the pet lover who wishes to make an income breeding, raising and selling small pet birds. Author James McDonald made his living for 25 years with exotic birds and animals before retiring in 2000 at the age of 50. He raised tens of thousands of birds himself and built a nationwide distributorship that supplied pet shops with parakeets, cockatiels, lovebirds, finches and other small pet birds. Through the years he has helped many people start their own successful backyard business breeding these small pet birds to help supply the pet industry with the millions that are sold annually. Now, for the first time ever he has put his proven methods of success in the form of a book. The book explains how to make an excellent income, either part-time or full-time breeding the most popular species of pet birds. Many breeders using these methods make from $500 to $2000 monthly on a part-time basis while full timers make much more. You will learn how you can live anywhere and ship your birds to the nationwide market. The book is actually 6 books in one. It completely covers both cage and colony breeding methods of parakeets, cockatiels, lovebirds and finches, as well as marketing and shipping. Additionally, three chapters completely cover how to become a wholesale distributor of pet birds, which can be a very lucrative business. Although the book was written with the pet lover in mind that wishes to make an income breeding birds, there is a tremendous amount of information in the book that the hobbyist will find useful as well. Many management tips and pointers can be used by the beginner as well as the experienced person to increase yearly production, thus increasing profits. As a well known animal lover, author James McDonald sold approximately one million exotic birds before his retirement and he reminds the readers of the moral obligations and responsibilities of animal ownership and encourages the reader to always accept those responsibilities by providing humane and adequate care for their birds at all times. The book is not written in some far out technical jargon or academic terminology, but in an easy to understand style with plain and simple, down to earth language by someone who has actually "been there and done that." It is a must have book if you enjoy breeding birds and would like to make a profit while doing something that you truly enjoy.
Customer Reviews:
An exceptional book packed to the brim with worthwhile tips........2004-12-31
Aside from the occasional typo or grammatical error, I found this to be the best of its type since Wendell Levi's Making Pigeons Pay. In some ways, in fact, this book is superior in scope to Levi's.
A great deal of the book is oriented to pet bird wholesaling. There also are well-written chapters for each of the top sellers - parakeets, cockatiels, finches and love birds. I found each of the bird breeding-specific chapters to be helpful, although further details should be included in a future edition.
I am hopeful the author, or another capable writer with experience, will soon issue a similar book for the more lucrative Parrots, Macaws, and so forth.
I further also hope somebody with experience will soon offer books for the other pet trade groupings - reptiles; marsupials, rodents, and so forth.
Hmmm...perhaps Breaking Free can do so and can then publish an Encyclopedia of Pets & Exotic Animals? Guess what...it is now in preparation and completion is scheduled on 1 September 2005. Interested parties should email LJ at ljsbreakingfree dot com.
We at LJ's Breaking Free intend to list this book for readers for it truly is one of those gems that people can use to find their freedom from corporate wage-slavery.
We also shall be seeking the publisher/author's permission for e-Book rights. In time, this book should be at the top of our best seller list - Bill Anderson, (LJ), Breaking Free.
Great information, very complete.......2004-11-23
A very well written book that will hold your interest so much that you will find it hard to put down. Very thorough, with step by step instructions on breeding, feeding, housing, and marketing of parakeets, cockatiels, lovebirds and finches, either as a hobby or commercially. The most complete book of its kind.
Great Book.......2004-08-18
This book includes a lot of information that would take the average person years to learn. Not only does it cover breeding various species of birds, but it covers different ways of marketing them as well. It even covers shipping birds via the airlines, which opens up larger markets for most people. If you enjoy birds and are considering turning your hobby into a small business, this book is a must have.
Excellent book on raising small birds.......2004-01-20
I was looking for a secondary income when I ran across this book. I found that the pet business is a huge business that I had never really thought about. I have always loved birds and animals and this book had the information that I needed to get started with a small business of my own. After reading the book through twice, I knew this was something that I would enjoy doing. I located a wholesale buyer in my area who agreed to buy my production. The book is well written, very interesting, and easy to understand. After reading the book you can clearly see that the author is an animal lover and is very much interested in the welfare of the birds, since he discourages anyone from entering this business solely for the financial rewards. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to breed the smaller types of pet birds, either for fun or as a small business.
Best book I've read in awhile !.......2004-01-08
After leaving a 20 year career with the government, I was hoping to find something more creative. While looking for information on buying a pet bird for my daughter , I happened across not only a great book about birds but also a new career. Although I will be starting at the hobby level at first , with the straight forward advice and information in this book I really feel I can expand this to any level. This book reflects 25 years of some one elses hard work and experience. Not only did I find the information on raising birds fascinating but there is a wealth of knowledge for anyone looking to start their own business.
Book Description
Break into the brokerage business.
Here is a step-by-step handbook to joining this elite group. Written by an accomplished mortgage broker with more than 15 years in the business and 2,000 deals to his credit, this book covers everything from whether or not real estate financing is the right career move to how to master the skills necessary to be successful.
• Overview of a day in the life of a mortgage broker—including the pros and cons of the career
• A self-test to help readers determine if the brokerage business is right for them
• Licensing and educational requirements, advice on successful networking, and basic mortgage information
• In 2004, there were over $3.8 trillion in mortgage originations nationwide—an all-time record— according to The Mortgage Bankers Association
Customer Reviews:
A Broad Overview and Practical Tips.......2007-08-31
This book is great. It gave me a broad overview of the mortgage industry and practical tips to get started as a mortgage broker. This book covers everything from are you the right person for this industry?, how to interpret financial indicators?, how to put all the success-proof components (knowledge, marketing, and technology) in motion?, what types of loans are available?, how to open your own shop when you are ready?, to even how to strike a work life balance? This is an easy read and I highly recommend it to anyone who might be interested in getting started in the mortgage industry.
Thanks Dan for writing such a valuable book.
DANIEL KAHN REALLY OUT DID HIMSELF!!.......2007-08-21
I've read several Mortgage Broker books in preparation of starting my own Mortgage Broker firm. I can sincerely state that this is the most concise and informative Mortgage Broker book I've read. Daniel not only breaks the Mortgage Industry down into layman terms, but he also provides his readers access to his personal business web site.
GREAT JOB DAN!!
Real estate sales person recommends this book!.......2007-08-05
As a real estate sales professional for almost twenty years, I know how important it is to work with a competent mortgage broker. Dan Kahn gives great insight into what it takes to become a success in the mortgage business - he lays it out from just getting started to getting ahead. This book is also a valuable reference tool for home buyers since it explains the mortgage process and its lingo. I found it an easy read and a book to keep for future reference.
Insightful Read.......2007-06-27
I am not much of a reader at all, but this book is clear and to the point. If you are new to the mortgage industry this book will give you a good base of knowledge to get you started. It will not teach you all of the ins and outs, but will introduce you to terms and ideas essential for understanding what the heck you are talking about to clients. Some of the contents are a little more than the beginner needs to know, but you can easily bypass those parts. Overall a good book!
Great Book!.......2007-04-12
Well researched. Content decently put together. Makes you want to just keep reading. Great job author! Serves as good reference material too. Good for keeps.
Book Description
The top-selling, most complete buyer's and seller's guide available.
The top-selling book on the subject, this latest edition of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Buying and Selling a Home focuses on everything to do with the sale and purchase of a house. With updated information on finding good schools and neighborhoods, expanded coverage on home auction sales, and the changing options buyers and sellers have with brokers, this is the best home buyer's and seller's guide on the market.
Customer Reviews:
Easy Easy easy.......2007-03-14
This one is really for the first time buyer. Easy to read and understand. I checked out the home buying for dummies from the library and was a little overwhelmed. The idiot's guide has a better lay out and is a good primer.
Very Helpful.......2006-08-11
Though some of the information is general, this book covers about anything you'd need to know about buying or selling a home. And the information in this revised 5th edition is very much up-to-date. You can't beat it for making the world of Real Estate easy to understand. Hence, "Idiot's" Guide, and when it comes to Real Estate, that definitely includes me.
No better than what you can get for free........2006-07-01
I got this book because my wife and I are getting ready to buy our first home and I wanted a book to guide me, and thus prevent me from making any major mistakes and to ensure I knew what was going on each step of the way. I read the entire section on buying a house (5/6 of the book) and even half of the section on selling a house just to see the other side of things (the remaining 1/6 of the book). I personally found the book gave just enough details to be frustrating.
The book will go over all the available options, but won't explore them in depth enough to help you make the right decision. For example, the book will tell you to contact multiple lenders and evaluate all the costs involved (the loan fees and if there are pre-pay penalties, not just the interest rate), but won't tell you how to really decide which loan to pick. The book will tell you that you can negotiate for some of the fees you have to pay with a mortgage to be waived by the lender or for some of the fees to be paid by the seller, but won't tell you how to spot these fees from the true, non-negotiable fees. There's a discussion of choosing the different types of homes (e.g. condo, townhouse or traditional home), but no discussion of the economic advantages of one over the other. I've heard townhouses appreciate faster, but I don't know if this is just an old-wives tale of if there is some truth to it. I still don't. Furthermore, the authors do nothing to predict future market trends, which is partly understandable since this is so difficult, but they don't even take a stab at it and the book is very current (2006).
Basically, the authors do a great job reviewing all of your options, but they don't advise you about what the *best* option would be for you. Maybe that is impossible because everyone's situation is totally different, but I'd like to see some situation specific direct advice, even if it resulted in some of the book being useless to me because it wasn't detailing my situation. Everyone's situation may be different but there aren't THAT many different situations (just starting out/family in apt moving to first house/family upgrading house/family downsizing house at retirement or because of unfortunate financial circumstances - that covers 95% of people). This would take more pages but there are pages to spare and that's my biggest gripe.
The book is organized by the steps in home buying (i.e. looking for a home/making an offer/obtaining financing/closing) but if you actually sit down and read it straight through like I did, you'll end up reading the same things over and over again. This makes the book better if you just want to read the chapter you're interested in because the chapters stand up on their own, but make it more frustrating if you read it front to back (you'll constantly be saying "yeah, I know, you told me that already, almost verbatim"). Not rehashing things would also free up pages to explore the nitty gritty in greater detail. I even found situations where full page tables were in the book twice in two seperate chapters! Completely unchanged, just printed twice when the authors were once again rehashing things they'd already covered!
In conclusion, I would have rather had concrete advice rather then the overview given here (although I think a better edited book could have had both in the same amount of space). The only other book I read that was even close to this was Suze Orman for the Young, Fabulous and Broke. That book gave very concrete advice and told you exactly what was the best things you could be doing and gave you a priority order to do them (401K then credit card debt then house down payment then Roth IRA). No concrete advice here. The book often passes off giving advice with the disclaimer "talk to your agent." That's good advice, but then why'd I get this book in the first place? Furthermore, I think to give concrete advice you have to really know your topic and I'm not sure the author's understand housing the way Orman understands personal finance.
I've been harsh so far, because that's what stands out to me, but I should say this book isn't a total waste of time, and this review has disproportinately focussed on the negatives. Bottom line, I just don't think there's much info here that you can't get for free somewhere else, like Yahoo Real Estate guides. In addition, online you can plug all your own numbers (like salary and debt burden) right into the online calculators (to tell you the maximum mortgage payment you can afford). So unless you really want the info packaged in book form I wouldn't buy this.
Other minor nit-picks:
1. The first part of the book is useless fluff. It covers stuff like "do you want 3 bedrooms or more" and "do you want a fireplace." I suppose it should be expected, but for me it wasn't necessary. That parts easy. Tell me how to get the best mortgage! Tell me how to get the best price!
2. All of the examples are from Indiana which is where the authors must be from. The authors would often say things like "this is how it's done in Indiana but it might be different in your state so you should check." I brought the book for you to tell me! They should include an appendix for these things telling you how it is for all 50 states instead of saying the sames things 3 times to get the page count up. Furthermore whenever they get into these issues (usually legal issues, such as how much information the seller is required to disclose to potential buyers) they don't even tell you how to find out if you were sufficiently motivated to investigate the matter yourself.
Book Description
The Complete Guide to Investing in Foreclosures offers practical, proactive strategies for buying and selling foreclosed properties at a huge profit -- without taking undue risks that can quickly turn a promising real estate portfolio into a mess. The book shows readers how to find properties in all stages of foreclosure -- often before they become public knowledge -- and how to focus on real value, not just price. Investors will learn how to take advantage of little-known alternatives not thoroughly covered by most competitive books, including HUD, VA, SBA and IRS properties, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac foreclosures, pre- and post-foreclosure opportunities, and much, much more. The Complete Guide to Investing in Foreclosures doesn't just offer the best strategies for individual foreclosures, it also presents a workable plan for developing a full-fledged investment program -- all in the reader's spare time. Packed with value assessment tools, lead generation strategies, step-by-step processes, and the all-important 7 Caveats of Investing in Foreclosures, this is a must-have resource for first-time and veteran real estate investors alike.
Customer Reviews:
Garbage.......2007-04-17
I was a sucker for buying it. You don't have to be.
The negative reviews are on target.
Please Do Not Waste Time With This Horrible Book.......2007-01-10
This book was simply horrible. It was not one bit practical. All it does is teach its readers how foreclosures work. Furthermore, it does a horrible job explaining how they work. Berges, your ripped me off. I want my money back you crook.
The Complete Guide to Investing in Foreclosures by Steve Berges.......2006-11-08
An official Library Weekly book review.
EXCERPT:
The primary key to success in the process of buying and selling foreclosed properties is not only to
understand the process, but also to act on the information...
RATING:
5 of 5
REVIEW:
Steve Berges delivers an interesting look into the world of foreclosures, finding investment
properties through court records and also through specific external web sites that provide
info on properties about to foreclose. We know that foreclosure is an ugly reality on the real
estate market, but it is happening daily and many investors simply don't know the steps on how
to start. This book not only an introduction but it also guides you through your baby steps.
A good buy!
OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. The Beginner's Guide to Real Estate Tax Lien and Tax Deed Auctions [ISBN 0978834607 at other online bookstores]
2. The Beginner's Guide to Real Estate Investing [ISBN 047164711X]
not even enough information to be dangerous.......2006-08-21
This is a basic beginnger's guide, and has more tangential information than relevant content. In fact, many chapters read like extended glossaries.
I have no idea why there is a full religious chapter about faith, family, and friends. Christian parables can make good reading but do not fit here.
Very helpful info ... but there is one little problem........2006-07-25
And that little problem is the physical construction of the book. The publisher has choosen to cram what seems like twice the normal text onto each and every page, which makes for very difficult reading. I was tempted to OCR scan the book and produce more reader-friendly pages from my computer, but eventually adapted to the problem.
And the book is a bit wordy, I thought, spending more time than necessary on many topics ... we all suffer from info overload and authors who scrimp on the prose and cut right to the chase are much appreciated.
But aside from these personal complaints, the book does offer much valuable info for anyone interested in foreclosure investing. For example, the author clearly points out the especially fertile opportunities in properties that are in the redemption phase, after the foreclosure sale.
All in all, I recommend the book, and the author's other books as well, with the suggestion that he might seek out a good copy editor before writing that next book ... :)
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- The First 90 Days: Critical Success Strategies for New Leaders at All Levels
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- The Heavenly Man: The Remarkable True Story of Chinese Christian Brother Yun
- The Home-Based Bookstore: Start Your Own Business Selling Used Books on Amazon, eBay or Your Own Web Site
- The Irresistible Offer: How to Sell Your Product or Service in 3 Seconds or Less
- The Laws of Thinking: 20 Secrets to Using the Divine Power of Your Mind to Manifest Prosperity
- The No Asshole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn't
- The Peebles Principles: Tales and Tactics from an Entrepreneur's Life of Winning Deals, Succeeding in Business, and Creating a Fortune from Scratch
Books Index
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General
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
The Pre-Foreclosure Property Investor's Kit: How to Make Money Buying Distressed Real Estate -- Before the Public Auction
The Pre-Foreclosure Real Estate Handbook: Insider Secrets to Locating and Purchasing Pre-Foreclosed Properties in Any Market
Buying Real Estate Foreclosures
Making Big Money Investing in Foreclosures: Without Cash or Credit
The Complete Guide to Investing in Foreclosures
