Book Description
Michael Corbett—host of Extra's Mansions and Millionaires—shares his strategies, tips, and never-before-revealed insider techniques that have helped him make a fortune in real estate.
This book is for aspiring flippers, first-time home buyers, or any homeowner who wants to create big profits and own their ultimate dream home—mortgage free! Starting with the essentials, Corbett shares how to crunch the numbers to instantly determine a house's profit potential. He then covers every step from purchase to sale:
• Get the profit-making house at the price you can afford
• Make the improvements that make you millions
• Insider secrets that save you thousands
• Take advantage of the market's ups and downs
• Sell your home tax free and pocket the profits
Filled with practical tips, illustrated with before-and-after case studies and easy to use charts and worksheets, Find It, Fix It, Flip It! offers the insider expertise needed to tap into an exciting—and potentially limitless—new source of income and financial independence.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Book with Nothing Left to Guess.......2007-09-25
This is one of the few library books that I had to purchase for myself.
The author is very very detailed with NO fluff or guessing on "how to".
Lots of pics & info references to really get true useful information on the subject. NO get rich BS here either. Did I mention easy read too..
100 pages in a 300 page cover.......2007-09-02
This book has an absurd amount of repetition. I felt like the author was trying to pad it to reach a certain length. he also brought up his previous position with Extra's Mansions & Millionaires a ridiculous number of times. The book is written with an attitude that I find distinctly crosses the line from confident to cocky. Furthermore, the editor did a poor job. There were numerous numbers that really didn't add up. For example, early in the book he mentioned that your appraisal costs should be form $300 - $600, depending on the size of your house. Later on, the number changes form $300 - $500. There is also a section titled "How a new tax law made me $60,000," and the numbers in it are laughably incorrect, not to mention he claims to have made $120,000, not $60,000. Not a deal breaker, but if such a lack of concern was shown for these details, how can I expect that the other subjects covered were portrayed correctly? Overall would not recommend.
Good book to train investors how to visualize potential in properties.......2007-09-01
If you are new to flipping houses this is an excellent resource. Mr. Corbett's book walks you through the money making elements essential to a successful flip.
Excellent book and chock full of pure meat !!!.......2007-08-15
This is a book that i had to slow down and go back to internalized it or i will miss the best of it. I have learned a lot by reading this book than the other courses i bought from other guru out there. it's impressive and full of information, i can say buy-it you won't be disappointed.
I wish Michael will write more book or offer some courses or seminar doing actual deal in the near future.
Nat
Great tips and easy to understand.......2007-08-04
This books gives great tips for the novice and veteran ofproperty flipping. The author uses real life examples putting the concepts into practice.
Book Description
In The No-Nonsense Real Estate Investor’s Kit, noted author and real estate expert, Thomas J. Lucier provides detailed information, step-by-step instructions and practical advice for both beginning and experienced investors, who want to join the ranks of America's real estate millionaires!
You get Tom Lucier’s lifetime of real estate investing expertise and experience in twenty-three meaty chapters. You also get all of the nitty-gritty details on five proven strategies for making money in real estate today. You’ll learn all of the fundamentals of successful investing and get the guidance that you need on these and many more vital topics:
- Choosing the right investment strategies
- Financing your deals
- Limiting your risk and liability
- Earning tax-free income from the sale of real estate
- Setting up and operating your own real estate business
- Investing in undervalued properties
- Following state and federal real estate related statutes
- Negotiating the best possible deal for yourself
- Buying properties at below-market prices
- Performing due diligence, inspections, and estimating property values
- Preparing purchase and sale agreements
The No-Nonsense Real Estate Investor’s Kit is as close as you can get to a graduate degree in real estate investing without ever going to college. It arms you with the specialized knowledge that you need to compete successfully against the seasoned real estate professionals in your local real estate market. And this book comes complete with FREE downloadable and customizable forms to help you get started on the fast track.
Customer Reviews:
The No-Nonsense Real Estate Investor's Kit is a Thorough Reference Book.......2007-08-04
One of the most thorough real estate investment books one can get. Lucifer covers a lot of topics with a very readable style. There was actually too much information for me to take in on the first reading of the book. I find myself going back to the book to browse sections I missed the first time through. You can read it on a need-to-know basis, like I do. If I come across something that I need more information on, I can often find the answer to what I am looking for in this book.
Of particular value is his online Resource List at the end of the book. The author has listed email addresses for many useful websites. I liked the online Property Sales Information, where I first learned about Craigslist as a great online source for finding properties for sale. I like to search specifically for homes with guest houses, and Craigslist makes it easy to do that type of "specialty" search.
I also like the fact that he recommends useful products to make our investment businesses run more smoothly. It shows that he's a down-to-earth guy who has been down the same path that we travel. For example, on page 65 he recommends the Desk Apprentice (designed by 2 participants in Donald Trump's The Apprentice TV show) to keep your office desk organized, and on page 66 the Cab Commander for your car seat office. Lucifer knows that we have to spend a lot of time behind the wheel searching for properties, conducting drive-by property inspections, and driving to appointments.
This book is packed with useful information. Many books are called real estate investment reference books, but this book truly is one.
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."
Not Enough.......2007-07-30
When I started reading this book, I thought I was going to learn everything about how to be a profitable real estate investor. There is just no way you can cover everything this book tries to cover in 300 pages. Each chapter leaves you with too many unanswered questions. Though, I could see how this book might be a good starting point for anyone interested in investing in real estate.
If you haven't heard of Tonja Demoff, you should give her book Bubble Proof: Real Estate Strategies that Work in any Market a look. Her book is a very easy read and it's packed with information that will help you get started with the right mindset and the right information to begin investing in today's market.
Realistic Advice for Newbie Real Estate Investors.......2007-06-21
Thomas J. Lucier is one of the best real estate writers in the business today and he comes through with another winning book here. His advice is far from the "get-rich-quick" nonsense so many authors and pseudo-investors peddle in books on this site and elsewhere. As a real estate lawyer and investor for almost 25 years, I admire this man's work greatly. Lucier is a genuine real estate investor and his clear, straight-forward, easy-to-follow, and honest investment suggestions always put his books a cut above so many others out there. The best part of his writing is how he breaks complex subjects into simple-to-digest pieces best designed for newbie investors wanting to get started in the real estate business. This book in particular debunks many of the get-rich-quick so-called "creative" real estate techniques like subject-to GET THE DEED buying and offers real world reasons why you should not do it, as opposed to so many authors that base their whole careers around such dangerous nonsense. I can't praise this book enough for its clarity and practical information. There is not a single wasted page in the entire text. This is by far one the best real estate books being sold today in print.
Enlightening.......2007-06-17
Fabulous, Real Eye Opener. Everyone with a brain should read this book
One of the best!.......2007-05-12
This is the second book I've purchased from Thomas Lucier, and I wasn't disappointed by either one. He has a no-nonsense, matter of fact style that is full of usefull information without the "fluff" or other bragging other authors of real estate books seem to use to fill the pages of their books. I would recommend any of his books to the beginning or even experienced investor that wants to have a reference book handy and learn the details of how the business works. And no bull-spit!
Book Description
Investing in apartment properties is made simple in this comprehensive resource for prospective buyers on how to make smart decisions about real estate and reach financial independence. Instructions, sample cases, worksheets, and real-life examples illustrate how to find and buy good property. An introduction to the real estate market for novices complements sophisticated discussions of finding value-added properties, determining market rent, obtaining a mortgage, refinancing, and selling. The expert advice presented offers an analytical approach to assuring predictable and successful investment in an often uncertain market.
Customer Reviews:
Probably The Best Book On This Subject.......2007-03-10
I have read and own numerous books on real estate investment and found this one to be one of the most concise and detailed books on apartment house investing on the market. I really don't understand what a previous reviewer meant by that it was a total loss. I found it to be detailed and informative. It literally takes you by the hand leads into investing on a property. I will be following the author's advice and begin investing in small apartment properties. If you are seeking true financial independence, you would be wise to purchase this book and not the crap promoted on late night t.v.
Worth The Investment.......2006-05-07
This is one of four books on purchasing and managing real estate that we purchased. Although pricey due to availability in hardback only, for those such as us that are first time buyers of commercial real estate, the data, clarity of thought and information will likely prove very valuable. It is a quick read that provides the basic tenets of buying multi-family units. The financial elements are fairly simplistic; hence we purchased an additional book that delves into the intricacies of purchasing and financing multi-family units.
Best I've Found Thus Far.......2006-02-25
Of the three books I've read on investing in multi-family real estate, this is by far the best. The author does a good job of walking the reader through from start to finish the purchase of a representative property. In the appendix the author provides several very easy to understand and useful financial analysis templates which can easily be recreated in Excel or any other spreadsheet program.
The Real Estate Recipe: Make Millions by Buying Small Apartment Properties in Your Spare Time.......2006-02-06
I found the book to be a very concise (Nuts & Bolts) and logical approach to buying small apartment properties from someone who obviously knows the process. He gives you all the tools needed to anaylise, purchase, manage and project profits. The forms in the book are easily accessed at the publisher's website www.dnapress.com for downloading. I'm closing on a 7 unit property in less than 2 weeks. Thanks Brian!
Complete Waste of money.......2005-10-14
This will be my first and only online review of any of my 200+ books in my library. But it needed to be said... The Biggest disappointment I have ever purchased...
1 Star
Two Thumbs Down
A Complete waste of money!
212 total pages (With Huge fonts and Filler pages after every Chapter Title Page)
4 Pages of Filler for "note"-taking in the back
17 Pages of "Constant Payment Tables/Remaining Loan Balance" Charts
The Book Averages 4 pages (Sides not full) per chapter of info
Page 151 is the Start of the Appendix
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
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.
Amazon.com
Buying a home requires skill in a variety of areas. There's negotiating, financing, inspecting a home, and understanding legal contracts. It's really too much for most people to do by themselves, which, as you know by now, is why most of us pay good money to hire real estate agents, mortgage brokers, home inspectors, and other professionals to help with the process. But that doesn't remove the buyer from the role of project manager, whose job is to understand what each specialist is meant to do and recognize when one of those key players is not doing his or her job right. Books such as 100 Questions Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Ask help the novice gain a solid understanding of the basics involved in this often complex process. The questions in this second edition of author Ilyce R. Glink's book also make buyers think about their decisions. If you want to buy an older home, for example, do you understand that older windows may need caulking or new sashes, that bathroom tiles may need regrouting, and that an older home may need rewiring, a new hot water heater, or a new furnace right away? Other questions range from the routine (How much can I afford? How do I make an offer?) to some that are hard to anticipate (What if the seller wants to stay in the house after the closing? Who should attend the closing?). Chapters are devoted to key topics, including figuring out what kind of house you want (this effort starts with a "wish list" and improves with a "reality check"), knowing what you can afford, putting together and negotiating a deal, financing your home, closing on the deal, and then doing what it takes to live happily ever after. Of course, living happily ever after requires understanding when it's time to move on to your next home, a process that may find you dusting off this book in the coming years. --John Russell
Book Description
From the most trusted name in real estate, here is the latest edition of the indispensable guide that helps first-time buyers land the home of their dreams.
Ilyce R. Glink has established herself as America’s most trusted real estate expert. In this new, fully revised and updated edition of the book that made her a household name, Glink offers more than 100 pages of new material addressing all of the current trends home buyers need to stay on top of, including:
• The new construction housing boom and how home buyers can make the most of it
• Mortgage lending innovations, such as interest-only financing and the ability to finance 103 percent of the purchase price
• The changing habits of first-time home buyers (purchasing without a broker, using discount Internet-based services, and buying first homes as investments)
• The latest information on asbestos, mold, radon, and other bio-environmental hazards and new, inexpensive testing methods any home buyer can use
In this third edition of 100 Questions Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Ask, Glink presents new stories of real people who have gone through the home-buying process for the first time and once again offers her trademark friendly advice on how to avoid common home-buyer mistakes.
Also available as an eBook
Customer Reviews:
great expert on buying and selling.......2007-10-11
i read this book and the counterpart for selling. only wish i had read them before i began the process. both are wonderful resources! she even has a syndicated column in the home section of most newspapers. highly recommended!
Perfect for first time buyers.......2007-08-13
I loved this book. It really helped me and my hubbie make sound decisions on what we wanted and needed. A great read if you take the time to prepare before big purchases.
AWESOME BOOK!.......2007-01-12
My husband and I bought this book because we were interested in buying a home and had never been through the process before. This book was so informative! We learned all kinds of things to do and not to do. This book is a must if you have never bought a home before!
Worth every penny.......2007-01-12
This book was my bible during my home purchase. It answers all kinds of questions. Very Helpful. If you are going to buy a home, buy this book.
Complete look at the daunting process.......2006-11-10
Covers many/most of the issues of importance. Only bummer is that since laws vary by state a few things didn't apply directly, would have been nice to get a warning to this effect.
Book Description
Focusing on the lean supply chain from an operations perspective, this insightful book offers a thorough overview, covering the activities of all the companies involved in the flow of products, services, finances, and information - from the initial suppliers to the ultimate users. It provides candid discussions of managers' tasks and responsibilities and how they may be best accomplished through the use of such conceptual tools as lean thinking, theory of constraints, and the balanced scorecard. The book uniquely integrates the discussion of theory of constraints with the lean supply chain, illustrating how both champion the use of pull to create the flow of goods and services through the value chain while emphasizing that lean is indeed a growth strategy.
Customer Reviews:
Good book.......2007-03-08
This book is concise in dealing with the basics and the advanced materials in the subject. Author's language is discernible even for those who are not familiar with this concept.
Crack the Bullwhip!.......2006-05-02
I am the Corporate Lean Champion for a global manufacturing company. I had heard of the bullwhip effect but did not thoroughly understand it before reading "the book" as I refer to it when recommending it to my Lean students. Streamlined helped me to put a plan together utilizing rate based planning, Lean variation reduction tools, and pull protocols to Crack the Bullwhip effect and drive it out of our organization!
Streamlined is a "must read" for any Lean practitioner, operations Leader, supply chain leader ot MBA student.
An Excellent Guide.......2006-01-08
I actually got the opportunity to study under Srini and can verify his expertise in this field. I picked up more than a few great ideas in this book that I hadn't seen in the many books I have read on the subject. I would recommend this book to students, managers, and specialist at all experience levels.
Excellent textbook for an advanced undergarduate course as well as MBA courses.......2005-06-28
I have adopted "streamlined" for an advanced topics in management course on lean supply chains. The challenge of finding a book that goes beyond the abstract concepts to more detailed and parctical steps for implementation has been greatly alleviated by "streamlined." Dr. Srinivasan provides the reader and the student in particular with a very well thought out and written text. My students' initial worries about the rigor and difficulty of the subject matter were quickly mitigated after reading the first few chapters.
The 14 principles provided me, the professor, an organizing framework for the delivery of the course, the assignments and the term project. The students and myself found "streamlined" to be very interesting, thought proviking, and useful.
This book is a must-read for any faculty member regardless of their discipline as the topics covered cut across all functional areas of business and provide a much-needed integrative approach.
Very thorough read.......2005-02-05
This book covers the concepts around supply chain optimization in depth. In our company we are using these techniques to improve the lead time in our global manufacturing supply chain.
S Narasimhan, Director of Quality
Amazon.com
First-time homebuyers have a guide specifically tailored to their needs in 10 Steps to Home Ownership. Author Ilyce R. Glink writes reassuringly for those who are new to the often-confusing world of real estate. Her book is full of worksheets, allowing readers to pencil out solutions to home buying's many riddles: How big a mortgage can you qualify for? How much money will you need at closing? This book, 10 Steps to Home Ownership, can help readers who find themselves dreaming of home ownership but are too bewildered to take the first steps. --Barry Mitzman
Book Description
The prequel to the hugely successful 100 Questions Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Ask tells first-time home buyers everything they need to know before they begin the search for the house of their dreams. Includes 20 worksheets, 15 charts and graphs.
Customer Reviews:
great product!.......2007-06-01
This book is in great shape and has a lot of useful information.
A nice aid to figuring out how to buy that first house..........2003-06-21
I bought this book about a year before I started looking for my first house (when I knew ABSOLUTELY nothing beyond the fact I wanted to buy) and I found this book to be an indespensible aid. The real beauty of it, for me at least, is Ms. Glink's ability to get you thinking about all the myriad issues involved in buying a home (including the biggie - do you even want to do it) in a constructive way with language that is easy to understand. I love that she includes the emotional issues (that are so often overlooked) alongside the financial, legal and practical issues. The breakdowns of real-estate language and the worksheets are nice touches, too. I have recommended this book to everyone I know who utters that magic phrase, "I'd love to buy a house someday...".
A must have for the new homebuyer.......2001-12-23
I am a 25 year old looking into buying a condo in Chicago. I just finished the book and it taught me so much about what to expect going into this major purchase. The author explains what you can reasonably assume a bank will loan you, different financing techniques and important emotional and financial issues you will have to resolve before choosing a home. Its easy to read and engaging. I usually have a short attention span for manuals, but I read this cover to cover in a week. I never lost interest. If you're a renter and at the point where you're starting to think you want to buy, read this book for some great tips and advice so you don't fall into any "gotchas" ahead.
Good for buying homes, but not apartments..........2000-12-08
This book is an invaluable resource for someone looking to buy their first home: Glink takes the reader through the home buying process step by step, and the amortization tables in the appendix definitely come in handy. However, I wouldn't necessarily recommend it for someone looking to buy a co-op or a condo. When I was looking to buy a co-op apartment in the city, I found the CO-OP BIBLE to be much more helpful--it was the book I turned to when I needed help with every aspect of that process.
Valuable Read for the First-Time Buyer.......2000-11-19
I recently read Ilyce Glink's "10 Steps to Home-Ownership" and came away impressed. She has great worksheets, and an objective, no-nonsense approach to the home ownership process. I recently closed on a home in the Southern California area and used "10 Steps" to prepare me for the process. I found myself referring to Eric Tyson's "Home Buying for Dummies" more than this book once I activeley looked for a home. However, I felt "10 Steps" was a good starter for the process and the worksheets made me comfortable with what I wanted and how much I can afford. One small complaint: she includes 70 pages of interest rate amortization tables which could be easily translated on one page.
Book Description
For fifteen years, automotive consumer expert and former auto dealer Remar Sutton has helped hundreds of thousands of car buyers to get the best deal in town. This completely new edition protects car buyers from the dealers' latest secret weapon-the Internet. Even the smallest bit of information entered on a Web site can give dealers what they need to take unfair advantage of their customers. From shopping and negotiating to financing, Sutton exposes car dealers' scams and gives you step-by-step instructions on how to get the best deal. With vital information about Internet shopping, privacy issues and how to use the Internet safely, and taking on the dealers, Sutton's guide is a must-read before stepping into a real or virtual showroom.
Customer Reviews:
Car Buyer's MUST READ Manual.......2007-04-16
This book is a must read. Packed with info I did not find in other material, fun to read (amazing for a car-buying guide). Trust me, if you don't want to be the patsy at the dealership poker game, you want to read this book first. It will save you thousands of dollars.
Good info, but the online stuff is overblown ..........2006-05-14
This book provides some good information on buying cars, and many of the tips suggested are spot on. But when it comes to the role of computers and the Internet in this equation, the author really needs to do more research for the next edition of this book. I work for one of the bigger online car-buying sites as well as providing support for car dealerships in getting their inventory online, and I thought it important to clear the air about a few things.
First of all, the way the author presents things, you would think that if you were to visit autotrader.com (or a similar site) with cookies turned on, suddenly every dealer in town knows your life history. But I'm here to tell you that these sites aren't nearly that sophisticated, and neither are the dealers. In fact, some dealers still keep their car inventory on Excel spreadsheets! And for the ones that do have some sort of server for managing inventory and sales, many of them don't even know how to use them beyond the basic essentials. In fact, I myself know more about these systems than do most dealers, and I've never personally worked with any of them. Trust me when I say that, contrary to what this book will tell you, dealers (or at least none of the ones I've seen) don't have some elaberate network of supercomputers to track your every move online. Heck, most of them could barely manage a Google search on their own :)
In fact, as far as the web is concerned, dealers won't pay attention to you unless you actually go online and fill out a form requesting a price quote or further information about a car, and then they only have as much data as you give them. Once you fill out the form, your request for information goes into a 'lead management tool' (one of these I also provide support for), which is little more than an Outlook-style web interface where dealers can track their dealings with you. For example, they can log any email, phone, or personal meetings, etc that they have with you, along with reminders of appointments to test drive a car and other important events. But my question to you is, since you have obviously expressed an interest in one or more of their vehicles, why WOULDN'T they want to keep a log of their correspondance with you? It's not like they're going to sell the information. In fact, as soon as the correspondance ends (either in you buying a car or doing business somewhere else), they'll either mark you as 'sold' or 'dead' respectively and that's pretty much the end of it, untl/unless you write them again. In fact, the worst that can happen is you may get occassional spam from the dealer (something I'm not particularly happy that dealers do) about sales events and such, and you can even opt out of those.
All that being said, even with the advent of car-buying websies, the best way to get a good deal on a car is still to go to the dealership and haggle (and this book will show you how to do that). If you do buy a car online without ever having visited a dealership, you're going to pay way more than you should 99% of the time. I have the luxury of seeing both the sticker and invoice prices on cars for many dealerships and it's not uncommon to see them differ by thousands of dollars. A tip I'd like to share with you (and I don't think this is in the book) is that if you find a particular option or color on a car that the dealership doesn't have, even if you're willing to live without that option or color, tell the dealer that you MUST have said item and tell them it's a deal-breaker if you can't get it. You'd be amazed at how fast the price comes down :) Oh, and if you want to get the extended warranty, NEVER do so at the price they quote you. I was able to get $800 knocked off the price without even expending any effort.
In short, though most of these websites may be crap, don't let this book scare you into looking around if you wish. This is especially true for auto manufacturer websites, as looking on these sites will give you a lot of useful information about the car, such as what options come with various model packages. The only thing you need to concern yourself with is that I would STRONLY advise NOT using Internet Explorer as your primary web browser (try Firefox or Opera if you are on Windows). The reason why is not because of anything specifically to do with looking for cars online; it's just that IE is a very insecure browser and you're potentially putting yourself at risk every time you use it. See here for more info:
[...]
20 yrs since I first read this, and it still works.......2005-09-26
I first read this book back in 1985 when I bought a Mazda 626. Got it for exactly 3% over the dealer's invoice, and this was before the day when they'd share that very readily. I've bought several cars over the years with the knowledge I've gained from this book and I've NEVER felt taken. The sources of data are even better now than they were in 1985, so you can make sure you're not taken ever. What I've found is that as soon as the dealers know you know their cost and what's a fair price, you get a great deal fast. It's also one of the most entertaining books I've ever read that was teaching me something. Some of the best money you'll ever spend because it will pay you back 100 fold.
Buy at your own risk w/o this book.......2005-04-27
I read the 1st or 2nd revision of this book and bought my first new car in '94. It saved me $2500.00 on my Nissan Altima. I still have the car today. I have bought 2 other cars since then and it saved me money everytime. I am getting ready to buy another car and can't find my copy of the book. I am going to purchase the book again to brush up on my car buying skills. I am sure the dealer's have come up with some new tricks to get into my wallet in the last 12 years. I recommend this book to all my friends who are buying cars. Besides being informative, the book is humorous and is a fun read.
This Book Saved Me $700 Over The Dealers "LOWEST PRICE".......2005-04-13
If you are buying a car you need to get this book. The price of the book is nothing compared to what it will save you! The book saved me an additional $700 on the best price the dealer had offered me which was $1,100 off his asking price, for a total savings of $1800!
Not only did I save money, I got the car that I wanted, not the car that the salesman and manager wanted me to buy!
Knowing now what I learned from this book, I would have paid over $100 for for this book!
I like how the book had "stories" to illustrate the points. that made it much easier to visualize.
Book Description
When describing kanban implementation most information resources merely reference it without explaining it in technical terms or providing implementation details. Authors James Vatalaro and Robert Taylor address the need for kanban implementation guidance in Implementing a Mixed Model Kanban System: The Lean Replenishment Technique for Pull Production.
Implementing a Mixed Model Kanban System is a comprehensive and in-depth guide to implementing a kanban within the value stream. Its plain-language approach provides step-by-step coverage and guidance of the implementation, metrics, and dynamics of an effective kanban system based on proven reliable methods honed through years of implementation experience within manufacturing and non-manufacturing environments. By focusing on a case study of a manufacturing company trying to create and maintain continuous flow in their value stream. Vatalaro and Taylor show the reader how to construct their own kanban process, from beginning to end.
This book carefully identifies and explains each of the components of a kanban system within the context of pull production. The authors' common sense approach makes this book an excellent "on the floor" resource for all levels of "lean learners."
In addition, a CD-ROM is included, containing the spreadsheets and forms discussed in the text.
Customer Reviews:
Better Kanban References Available.......2007-03-17
If you are new to Kanban, this book is not for you. It only gives a small description on how to run a kanban system.
A methodology for insuring maximum quality at minimal cost.......2005-08-07
The collaborative work of Toyota Production System veterans and experts James C. Vatalaro and Robert E. Taylor, Implementing A Mixed Model Kanban System: The Lean Replenishment Technique For Pull Production spells out the technical details and requirements of implementing a kanban system, a methodology for insuring maximum quality at minimal cost particularly in product manufacturing, within the context of pull production. Chapters explain the principles of kanban in plain terms, tools for applying and managing the system, and frequently asked questions. Simple diagrams, sample charts, and plain language clearly outline the basics in this valuable resource for any business manager or production overseer looking to take advantage of the structure and principles of kanban.
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