The Pre-Foreclosure Property Investor's Kit: How to Make Money Buying Distressed Real Estate -- Before the Public Auction
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Great Information! The best investment book I have read to date.
  • Very Good Resource
  • Ok content, misleading promise......
  • Excellant with lots of meat.
  • This book is a winner!
The Pre-Foreclosure Property Investor's Kit: How to Make Money Buying Distressed Real Estate -- Before the Public Auction
Thomas Lucier
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

GeneralGeneral | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
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  1. How to Make Money With Real Estate Options: Low-Cost, Low-Risk, High-Profit Strategies for Controlling Undervalued Property....Without the Burdens of Ownership! How to Make Money With Real Estate Options: Low-Cost, Low-Risk, High-Profit Strategies for Controlling Undervalued Property....Without the Burdens of Ownership!
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  4. The Pre-Foreclosure Real Estate Handbook: Insider Secrets to Locating and Purchasing Pre-Foreclosed Properties in Any Market The Pre-Foreclosure Real Estate Handbook: Insider Secrets to Locating and Purchasing Pre-Foreclosed Properties in Any Market
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ASIN: 0471692794

Book Description

Pre-foreclosure real estate is one of the hottest investment opportunities on the market. The Pre-Foreclosure Property Investors Kit offers step-by-step instruction and no-nonsense advice on how to find great deals, estimate fair market value, negotiate with sellers, sell your property on your own, and win big in real estate. Youll learn how to get the best deals on foreclosure properties before they go to auction and utilize simple ready-made worksheets, checklists, forms, and agreements that make getting started easy. Even people of modest means can get into pre-foreclosure investing—all it takes is a little hard work, persistence, and the tools youll find in this handy guide.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Great Information! The best investment book I have read to date. .......2007-09-28

This book is simple, straight forward, and realistic. The author does a great job. The book is full of excellent strategies and advice.

5 out of 5 stars Very Good Resource .......2007-09-24

This book provides excellent insight for buying pre-foreclosures. It is well-written, easy to understand, and insightful. The only problem is that it does not give relevant economic information to investors to navigate the real estate bubble. However, I do not fault the author for that since they are really two seperate topics. To fill this gap I would also recommend Cashing in on the Real Estate Bubble. This book focuses on the economic aspect of teh bubble and presents a survey of the best methods to make money from the real estate mess.

If you want to buy pre-foreclosures, I would recommend both books - this one for instructions on how to handle foreclosures and the other (Cashing in on the Real Estate Bubble) as an economic resource. Together, I feel they have given me a huge edge.

3 out of 5 stars Ok content, misleading promise.............2007-09-16

The content of the book is solid and practical. However, don't believe the author's statement in the book that he will answer questions sent to him directly via email. I sent repeated emails to Mr. Lucier requesting clarification of a couple scenarios from the book and have had no responses.

5 out of 5 stars Excellant with lots of meat........2007-08-26

This book will not do the job for you rather it will make you think. Granted the author is a little odd but, the information is true to fact. You start to think when you read this book and then the inspiration comes. This book is only a stepping block to great things. I apply this and a lot of other information and I make a great living. I hope people do not like this book so, I can eliminate the competition. LOL

5 out of 5 stars This book is a winner!.......2007-07-16

I am a retired real estate broker in Nevada and an associate broker in Utah. This book is full of details on exactly how to go about purchasing pre-forclosure properties. Author includes websites to research for additional information, form to be used in your quest to find pre-foreclosure properties and his personal email address if you get really stuck. I would recommend this book to anyone who is really interested in improving their income.
10 Secrets to Successful Home Buying and Selling: Using Your Housing Psychology to Make Smarter Decisions
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Awesome help with home buying and sales!
  • Yippee!! I made the decision...
  • Housing and Happiness
  • Housing Decisions
  • A Remarkable Effort
10 Secrets to Successful Home Buying and Selling: Using Your Housing Psychology to Make Smarter Decisions
Lois A. Vitt
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0131455001

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Awesome help with home buying and sales!.......2007-01-06

Vitt's book has been a tremendous help to us with the complicated and emotional process of buying and selling our homes. We knew we wanted to move, but each of us had very different ideas of what the "perfect home" would be like. Our differences sometimes seemed insurmountable. Also, it was often hard to understand why we were looking for certain characteristics in a home, and why we wouldn't compromise. Fond memories of homes that we had loved mixed and collided with current and future needs. For example, one of us wanted a wooded lot on a quiet street above all else; the other didn't care about location but wanted the home to be big enough to meet our need for interior space. We couldn't find a property that suited us both; how could we resolve this potential pitfall? Ms. Vitt gave us a structure for examining our motives and hopes, as well as a way to resolve our differences and find a home we can both love.

Also, the financial aspects of the decision-making process were important, and "10 Secrets" gave us a very clear path for avoiding potential financial disasters.

A home is so important, both emotionally and financially. "10 Secrets" gave us the tools and information we needed to navigate our way to successfully buy a home.

Also, we were so impressed with Vitt's book, that we gave a copy to our realtor, who frequently has to negotiate between couples, as well as between buyers and sellers. A Must-Buy for Realtors, too!

Have given copies to friends who are thinking about moving. Great gift.

Well-written, well-organized, an awesome book!

5 out of 5 stars Yippee!! I made the decision..........2005-01-25

to stay in my house! Having recently gone through a divorce, and somewhat uncomfortable with my neighborhood, which has a very different demographic from mine, I struggled with how I could manage the house on my own, and finance numerous small and large repairs without taking on too much debt.

After taking the quiz, I realized that the financial stability of my house is the most important factor I needed to satisfy. Once I realized that...it was much easier to invest a few thousand dollars to update the furnishings and to make the house more like a home that reflected my personality. I was also able to take on additional debt to make some costly, but necessary repairs, such a new foundation and sewer line. In doing so, I found a way to restructure my entire debt load that allows me one smaller monthly payment, leaving me with a greater monthly cash flow.

I can honestly say that I wouldn't have had the courage to undertake the repairs, and take on the additional debt, if I hadn't read this book. Having a clear insight into my issues surrounding "home" and understanding more clearly my emotional profile, I was able to make my need structure work in my favor, instead of against me. Without this book, I would probably have sold the house at a discount, and made another, equally unsatisfying move.

5 out of 5 stars Housing and Happiness.......2005-01-05

I purchased this book on the advice of a friend. After determining my housing profile I purchased ten additional copies as holiday gifts for colleagues. This book is the first of it's kind and will assist you in understanding how your housing decisions are made and how to make your home a place of happiness and not only financial but emotional security. I found myself highlighting passages as I went along for quick future reference. I would highly recommend this book to anyone - no matter what your living/financial situation.

5 out of 5 stars Housing Decisions.......2004-12-28

At last a book that entertains you while giving solid information. I especially like the way this author uses flesh and blood real people to illustrate her points. I'm halfway through already in one day --maybe I'll write another when I finish it.

5 out of 5 stars A Remarkable Effort.......2004-12-27

I have worked with Dr. Vitt for many years, and I am always amazed when the final product arrives. This book is just one of many of the remarkable things she has written, but this book alone has been the greatest help to me in deciding to refinance my home, an idea I had been toying with for a long time. After rereading it for pleasure and learning, rather than editing, I have learned a great deal more about the dynamics of buying, selling or refinancing my own home, and for this I am grateful to Dr. Vitt. This book should be a great help to anyone who is considering any kind of housing change.

V. Karen McMahon
Real Estate Finance: Theory and Practice (with CD-ROM)
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Real Estate Finance: Theory and Practice (with CD-ROM)
    Terrence M. Clauretie , and G. Stacy Sirmans
    Manufacturer: South-Western Educational Pub
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

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    ASIN: 0324305508

    Book Description

    Based on sound economic and finance principles, the primary goal of this market-leading text is to promote a greater understanding of how real estate financial markets work. The authors blend theory with practice applying the theoretical aspects of financial economics to explain how Real Estate financial institutions and markets have developed and evolved to their present state, and why they take the forms they do. The impact of major federal legislation that applies to real estate finance (especially residential) is also addressed.
    Home Buying For Dummies, 3rd edition
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Obvious Find for Practical Advice
    • Slow delivery
    • Informative and Useful Book...
    • Very helpful
    • Informative
    Home Buying For Dummies, 3rd edition
    Eric Tyson , and Ray Brown
    Manufacturer: Wiley
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

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    ASIN: 0471768472

    Amazon.com

    This may be the best comprehensive guide for home buyers. Home Buying for Dummies is coauthored by Eric Tyson, author of several other books in the For Dummies series, and Ray Brown, a long-time real estate professional. Like other books in the series, this one is an easy and even entertaining read. But it does not gloss over details in pursuit of simplicity. Home Buying for Dummies covers all the bases, providing clear explanations and reasonable judgments on how to select a mortgage, hire a real estate agent, find the right house, and negotiate a good deal. The book goes further than most in providing helpful, specific information. For example, in discussing ways to save money for a future down payment, Home Buying for Dummies even includes the phone numbers for various mutual funds appropriate to different investment time frames. --Barry Mitzman

    Book Description

    Though fun and exciting, buying a home can also be complicated and confusing—and most people learn the hard way that a wrong move can cost dearly. In order to find the perfect home at the best price, you must have skill, foresight, and a little guidance from experienced professionals.

    Home Buying for Dummies, Third Edition provides just that! Packed with invaluable advice in an objective, down-to-earth style that will have you sitting in your dream home in no time, this friendly guide contains everything you need to know to play the home buying game. It has the tools you need to:

    Featured in this guide are tips and tricks on things you should do after you seal the deal, as well as things you ought to know about real estate investing. Also included is advice on how to sell your house, as well as a sample real estate purchase contract and a good inspection report. Don’t get chewed up by the real estate market—Home Buying for Dummies, Third Edition will lead you to the home you want!

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars Obvious Find for Practical Advice.......2007-09-27

    This text is an excellent primer for those of us who are novices in the terminology and techniques involved in what could possibly be the most important financial decisions of our lives. And aren't afraid to admit it.

    1 out of 5 stars Slow delivery.......2007-09-21

    Still have not received this product as of today 9/21. Item was needed to give as gift for 9/22.

    5 out of 5 stars Informative and Useful Book..........2007-08-14

    This book fully explains the process of deciding when and how to buy a home. I plan to purchase a home within the next three years, and feel that I will well-prepared.

    4 out of 5 stars Very helpful.......2007-08-06

    We picked this up when we were going to buy our first home. It helped us to make the right decision and not feel stupid by asking questions.

    4 out of 5 stars Informative.......2007-07-13

    I was hoping that by reading this book I would be able to buy a home on my own without a realtor, however, although truly informative, I doubt that it provided me with enough information to be that independent. Definitely a good book, but needs to be back up with other sources.
    How to Make Money With Real Estate Options: Low-Cost, Low-Risk, High-Profit Strategies for Controlling Undervalued Property....Without the Burdens of Ownership!
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Great instructive book
    • Unique but Highly Profitable Real Estate Investment Strategy
    • Bad writing style
    • Another real estate tool for the box
    • The ideas sound great, but lack online support
    How to Make Money With Real Estate Options: Low-Cost, Low-Risk, High-Profit Strategies for Controlling Undervalued Property....Without the Burdens of Ownership!
    Thomas Lucier
    Manufacturer: Wiley
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

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    ASIN: 047169276X

    Book Description

    Spend like a miser, profit like a mogul

    Who says you have to spend money to make money?Savvy real estate investors follow the examples of Donald Trump and Walt Disney, turning substantial profits on properties without incurring the debt, risk, and maintenance costs of ownership—and now, so can you!

    In How to Make Money with Real Estate Options, real estate expert Thomas Lucier introduces you to the low-risk, high-yield investment vehicle that can earn big bucks even for small investors. Lucier explains what real estate options are, how they work, and why they are the tools of choice for thousands of successful investors. Step by step, he shows you how to:

    Packed with no-nonsense advice on how to identify the most profitable properties and manage every step of the option process, How to Make Money with Real Estate Options is a practical guide to one of the secret weapons of savvy investors.

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Great instructive book.......2007-07-30

    This book is exactly what I was looking for. I was interested in getting started in buying and selling real estate options and this book gets to the heart of it. There are a multitude of great suggestions, tips, and instruction. I would be lost without it. There are even sample forms. Worth twice the price!!

    4 out of 5 stars Unique but Highly Profitable Real Estate Investment Strategy.......2007-07-26

    Real estate options are a very little used tool in the business, possibly because many people confuse them with land contracts. RE Options are nothing like land contracts, in a land contract you are obligated to buy. In an option you have the option of purchasing at a preset price. A number of examples are given and this is a well written book for people who have never attempted this. I recommend this book to all RE investors and Realtors.

    3 out of 5 stars Bad writing style.......2007-05-13

    Like Lucier's other book on finding preforeclosure properties, this book on real estate options, while full of useful information, is so hard to read because of the terrible writing style that it is hard to recommend very strongly. His uneducated writing style causes me to wonder if he really knows what he is talking about. Prepare to be educated by torture if you choose to read this book.

    4 out of 5 stars Another real estate tool for the box.......2007-03-26

    Great for a rookie to get lot of updated real estate information, but this book is probably geared toward an investor with a little more experience or a rookie investor that is well schooled. What was the best information in this book? - How to structure and execute real estate options. Also good a strategy, which involves locating distressed property, controlling that property with an option, and then finding a buyer who would probably not have considered that property until you were able to show him the potential in that property. Another real estate tool for the box.

    2 out of 5 stars The ideas sound great, but lack online support.......2007-01-23

    I read most of this book and the ideas sound great, but after checking the author's web site I found the support limited. He offers his own personal support for a fee, but there is no way to contact anyone other than himself. Like every other how-to book on real estate you have to ask a question. Does anyone besides the author use this method? If so, how do I contact these individuals?

    Until I come across a book like this, I find it hard to believe the author's information.
    Residential Lighting: A Practical Guide
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • A most excellent book
    • Residential Lighting - A Practical Guide
    • Excellent Resource
    • Lighting secrets revealed!
    • A lighting technique that works!
    Residential Lighting: A Practical Guide
    Randall Whitehead
    Manufacturer: Wiley
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

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    ASIN: 0471450553

    Book Description

    Residential Lighting is the complete guide to illuminating single-family homes.

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars A most excellent book.......2007-08-25

    Well detailed, provides basic info about lamp types, color, and specific information/suggestions for each room, even outdoors/landscape lighting. A bit pricey, but still worth it. Read it cover to cover.

    4 out of 5 stars Residential Lighting - A Practical Guide.......2006-03-03

    This is an excellent practical and technical book for learning about and designing lighting for a home. It's aimed at the professional, which I appreciate as an intern architect. Part of my job is to design sophisticated lighting schemes for custom homes, which takes a lot of experience and knowledge. This book has really helped me to pinpoint the different kinds of lighting needed for each space and how to place it and specify it in a professional way for the greatest effect. Most architects take years to learn this, but I'm getting a crash course by having this resource. It's not a fluffy coffee table book, it's a technical manual that teaches HOW to properly understand and design lighting for a residence. I highly recommend it.

    5 out of 5 stars Excellent Resource.......2006-02-25

    This is the best book that I have seen on the topic. The practical advice is well balanced with technical information. A must-have for any Designer's Resouce Library.

    5 out of 5 stars Lighting secrets revealed!.......2005-11-29

    As a designer, I can't say enough good things about Randall Whitehead's Residential Lighting, A Practical Guide. This is his follow up to his wonderful Lighting Up! A Practical Guide which has been a staple of the design community for seven years. All the best parts of the earlier book have been retained with the addition of more than 200 photos in both color and black & white.

    The chapters have really been packed with up-to-the-minute information about many of the new technologies that are now becoming the norm, such as light emitting diodes (LEDs). There are also a whole new series of enlightening sections in the back of the book with great tips on how to run a design business, how to get published and how to deal with clients.

    Randall's way of writing is very entertaining and I feel it has revitalized the often dry category of textbooks. His funny, casual method of doling out information really helps make this book a pleasure to read. His energy and humor is infectious as he lets readers in on the secrets and practices of good lighting for homes and gardens. What also sets this book apart from other texts on lighting is how he approaches the subject first from the aesthetic side then gradually lets the reader in on the technical reasons how lighting design works.

    This is an inspirational reference guide for all aspiring designers... as well as for established design professionals like me. Even savvy homeowners will latch onto this book as the insider's guide to the secrets of great lighting.

    5 out of 5 stars A lighting technique that works!.......2005-04-22

    I've read a few other lighting books over the years but found that Whitehead's approach is superior for creating moods in rooms. My wife and I prototype interiors in our home and the results from "A Practical Guide" have been outstanding. We move and change the lighting with temporary luminaires and various wattages to explore the various possibilities before using them in real designs for clients.

    Beware - after buying into his concepts you will be frustrated by the lighting almost everywhere you go.

    - jim
    Flipping Confidential: The Secrets of Renovating Property for Profit In Any Market
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Flipping homes
    • Very Good
    • Flip
    • Flipping confidential
    • Any library strong in financial planning or real estate investing should have this.
    Flipping Confidential: The Secrets of Renovating Property for Profit In Any Market
    Kirsten Kemp
    Manufacturer: Wiley
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

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    Book Description

    Master the art of flipping with KIRSTEN KEMP, host of the hit TV show Property Ladder!

    "This book establishes a new standard for real estate authors. Kemp gives her readers delightfully written prose packed with her wealth of experiences. She lays out so many profit-generating (and loss-avoiding) ideas that while reading the manuscript my highlighter never got a rest."
    —Gary Eldred, Trump University Professor of Real Estate, coauthor of the bestseller Investing in Real Estate

    Real estate isn't just for the rich! And this book proves it. In Flipping Confidential, Kirsten Kemp, the host of TLC's runaway hit show, Property Ladder, gives first-time investors the guidance and inside tips to buy cheap, fix fast, and sell high. With a positive attitude and a healthy dose of humor, Kirsten Kemp walks you through every step of a successful flip—from finding the right house to getting your financing in order, from making big improvements to pricing the home to sell.

    If you've ever seen Property Ladder, you know that successfully fixing and flipping a property can be a deeply rewarding experience—both personally and financially—when you do it right. Kemp makes sure you do it right in Flipping Confidential, revealing all the inside knowledge she has amassed as a successful flipper. You'll learn how Kemp became a successful flipper and much more, including how to:

    Real estate is the key to your financial freedom, and flipping is the fastest way to unlock that door. If you want to get out of the office, be your own boss, spend more time with your family, and make a truckload of money in the process, this is the ultimate guide to your new life. The key to financial success isn't a secret, it's Flipping Confidential.

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars Flipping homes.......2007-10-10

    Two books that I think really are helpful if you're learning about real estate investing are this book, Flipping Confidential and Dean Graziosi's Be A Real Estate Millionaire: Secret Strategies for Lifetime Wealth Today

    5 out of 5 stars Very Good.......2007-10-10

    This book is full of the information I was looking for and is plainly stated in ways that I can understand - This is useful information that I can apply to my projects.

    4 out of 5 stars Flip.......2007-10-03

    Excellent read. This book offers a lot of good information to the novice investor or to the person with little flipping experience. This book would be good reading by the more experienced flipper, if only to review the tricks of the trade that may have been forgotten. Well written and easy to understand.

    5 out of 5 stars Flipping confidential.......2007-09-12

    Just started the book, but so far informative, funny and personal. I think it will be a great read and inspirational for everyone to go out and make your dreams of flipping come true.!!

    5 out of 5 stars Any library strong in financial planning or real estate investing should have this........2007-09-03

    Kristen Kemp is host of the TV show PROPERTY LADDER and here provides first-time investors with insider's tips on how to buy cheap, fix fast, and sell high - popularly known as 'flipping' properties. From beginning with little savings or free time to locating great leads, financing, good agents and contractors, and more, FLIPPING CONFIDENTIAL: THE SECRETS OF RENOVATING PROPERTY FOR PROFIT IN ANY MARKET provides a toolbox of facts couched in an easy question/answer format and segregated into chapters by topic, making it easy for novice investors to follow. Any library strong in financial planning or real estate investing should have this.
    The Not So Big House: A Blueprint for the Way We Really Live
    Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    • Great concepts, middling design
    • Inspiration & ideas for rethinking your living space
    • A must Have If You Plan To Build
    • Reviewed by Amy Lignor
    • Insightful book with great ideas
    The Not So Big House: A Blueprint for the Way We Really Live
    Sarah Susanka
    Manufacturer: Taunton
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

    GeneralGeneral | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
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    Home RepairHome Repair | How-to & Home Improvements | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
    Small Homes & CottagesSmall Homes & Cottages | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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    1. Creating the Not So Big House: Insights and Ideas for the New American Home Creating the Not So Big House: Insights and Ideas for the New American Home
    2. Inside the Not So Big House: Discovering the Details that Bring a Home to Life (Susanka) Inside the Not So Big House: Discovering the Details that Bring a Home to Life (Susanka)
    3. Not So Big Solutions for Your Home (Susanka) Not So Big Solutions for Your Home (Susanka)
    4. Outside the Not So Big House: Creating the Landscape of Home Outside the Not So Big House: Creating the Landscape of Home
    5. The Not So Big Life: Making Room for What Really Matters The Not So Big Life: Making Room for What Really Matters

    ASIN: 1561583766
    Release Date: 2001-04-01

    Amazon.com

    When describing a favorite room in the house, do you find yourself using terms such as "expansive," "formal," and "spacious"--a marble foyer or a formal dining room perhaps? Or do the words "cozy," "intimate," and "warm" come to mind--a cheery little breakfast nook or a window seat complete with plenty of pillows and a breathtaking view? More than likely, you--like thousands of other homeowners--are drawn to the more personal spaces in your home, where comfort, beauty, and efficiency meet. In The Not So Big House, respected architect Sarah Susanka and coauthor Kira Obolensky address our affinity for the "smaller, more personal spaces" and propose "clear, workable guidelines for creating homes that serve both our spiritual needs and our material requirements." The heart of the not-so-big house--which is not "just a small house ... [but] a smaller house," that uses "less space to give greater quality of life," and is designed to not only "accommodate the lifestyles of its occupants" but also to express "our values and our personalities," is discussed in chapter 1, entitled "Bigger Isn't Better." Susanka's urging for homeowners to get creative with their space as well as loads of ideas to encourage that creativity are covered in "Rethinking the House" and "Making Not So Big Work." Discussions of specific needs, such as a home for one and designing for kids, can be found in "Lifestyles of the Not So Rich and Famous," while "Dreams, Details, and Dollars" gets down to the nuts and bolts of the operation, looking at quality versus quantity, budgeting, and what "low end," "middle ground," and "high end" really mean in home design and construction. Lastly, the authors look at the home of the future, which involves simplifying, recycling, reducing waste, and using energy-efficient construction. With more than 200 color photographs, as well as floor plans and Susanka and Obolensky's intelligent and lively dialogue, The Not So Big House is perfect for homeowners ready to rethink their space. --Stefanie Hargreaves

    Book Description

    Sarah Susanka contends that people are naturally drawn to intimate spaces. Large structures inspired by outdated patterns tend to result in houses that just don't work. In The Not So Big House, she proposes clear guidelines for creating homes that serve spiritual needs as well as material requirements. Topics covered include designing for specific lifestyles, budgeting, building a home from scratch, and using energy-efficient construction. With more than 200 color photographs as well as floor plans, the book is perfect for homeowners ready to rethink their space. “Susanka says to evaluate what makes you feel at home and let your activities define your rooms.” — San Francisco Chronicle

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars Great concepts, middling design.......2007-09-25

    I've found this book to be an invaluable resource and appreciate the philosophy and information contained within it. I also found the numerous photos and illustrations to be helpful to convey Susanka's ideas.

    The only problem is that I found the actual design and decor of the homes in the book somehow dated and uninspiring. This is definitely a personal reaction, and I'm sure others would disagree. Despite my issues with the actual look of the homes, I'd recommend this as an essential resource along with John Wheatman's books (whose design does resonate for me).

    5 out of 5 stars Inspiration & ideas for rethinking your living space.......2007-09-02

    The ideas in this book encourage you to think about how you would like use your home space and how to accomplish this marriage of functionality with comfort and aesthetics. Almost every photo has some new little idea to think about. It gives me hope that I'll finally be able to create a comfortable home that integrates everyone's interests & needs. It's inspirational for those of us who have to adapt living spaces to growing families & to those like me who are now empty nesters (but who still need bed space for visiting family members).

    5 out of 5 stars A must Have If You Plan To Build.......2007-06-27

    Useful, practical, creative. Anyone can gain something from this book even if you aren't building.

    4 out of 5 stars Reviewed by Amy Lignor.......2007-06-21

    Have you ever found yourself asking, "Is this all there is to life?" We are running in a world of cell phone and blackberry technology, where life is so fast that we never have time to do what we truly want: sit back and enjoy our lives while we have one. This author, with a background in architecture, has put together a fantastic psychological blueprint, if you will, to make changes that will offer you a more rewarding life. This is not like the usual "schlock" that says close your eyes and all good things will come. No, this author takes the time to reveal that things like form and function are not only useful in building a house, they can be translated into building a better life. In a house, you can tear down interior walls to make more space and bring in more light; in your life, you can tear down your fears and open new possibilities.

    This is a lovely read filled with wise advice. The author has successfully interwoven her extensive architectural background into well-compiled thoughts on how each and every one of us can make small changes in our lives that will allow us to treasure the time we have.

    My advice? If you wish to begin taking time out to enjoy your life - begin by reading this book.

    5 out of 5 stars Insightful book with great ideas.......2007-05-26

    I was starting to think I was crazy for wanting to build a small house, but this book perfectly articulates the thoughts I was having so much conveying. It is a wonderful basis for discussion and offers many practical, well thought out ideas for implementation.
    Mortgages For Dummies, 2nd Edition
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Good For Starters
    • Mortgages For Dummies, 2nd Edition
    • Saved me a fortune!!!!!!
    • very little substance
    • Loan Officer Info
    Mortgages For Dummies, 2nd Edition
    Eric Tyson , and Ray Brown
    Manufacturer: For Dummies
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

    GeneralGeneral | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
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    Buying & Selling HomesBuying & Selling Homes | Real Estate | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
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    Similar Items:
    1. Home Buying For Dummies, 3rd edition Home Buying For Dummies, 3rd edition
    2. Mortgage Encyclopedia: An Authoritative Guide to Mortgage Programs, Practices, Prices and Pitfalls Mortgage Encyclopedia: An Authoritative Guide to Mortgage Programs, Practices, Prices and Pitfalls
    3. 100 Questions Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Ask: With Answers from Top Brokers from Around the Country (100 Questions Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Ask) 100 Questions Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Ask: With Answers from Top Brokers from Around the Country (100 Questions Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Ask)
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    ASIN: 0764571923

    Amazon.com

    For many of us, the single biggest financial transaction is buying a house. Even more significant than the hefty down payment we fork over is the 15- to 30-year mortgage that needs feeding every month. If you have this much at stake, a little knowledge can go a long way, which is where Eric Tyson and Ray Brown come in. In Mortgages for Dummies, Tyson and Brown (who also wrote Home Buying for Dummies and House Selling for Dummies) provide a comprehensive introduction for anyone who is contemplating a mortgage. The book tells you how to evaluate your creditworthiness, determine your borrowing power, and shop for a lender, as well as covering the various types of loans. The authors also devote a section to refinancing and discuss what you should consider when prepaying a loan. They include amortization and remaining-balance tables, and a useful glossary. Whether you're a first-time home buyer or are just looking to refinance, you'll find this a valuable, easy-to-use guide. --Harry C. Edwards

    Book Description

    For typical homeowners, the monthly mortgage payment is either their largest or, after income taxes, second-largest expense item. When you’re shopping for a mortgage without the proper knowledge, you could easily waste many hours of your time in addition to the financial losses suffered by not getting the best loan you can. Choosing the right mortgage can help you save money for more important financial goals such as higher education and retirement.

    Mortgages For Dummies, Second Edition is for anyone who needs a loan to buy their first home, wants to refinance their existing mortgage, or would like to tap into the equity they’ve built up. Updated to include the very latest on every kind of loan, this friendly, easy-to-understand guide will help you:

    Once you select the right mortgage for your situation, you can explore, step-by-step, how to get the best possible deal. Mortgages For Dummies, Second Edition also covers the following topics and more:

    For most of us, the mortgage field is jammed with jargon and fraught with fiscal pitfalls. It’s up to you to seek the knowledge necessary to make your mortgage process more rewarding. This handy guide shows you everything you need to know to find your way through the home financing jungle and make the best decisions possible.

    Customer Reviews:

    3 out of 5 stars Good For Starters.......2007-05-22

    The book touches on the very basics of buying a home. Lots of industry terms defined - this solves a communication barrier to often seen in this industry. Often times, some lenders forget to check the literacy of there clients and breeze through the whole process without defining some key terms. With this book, loan officers/brokers/agents and clients are on the same page.

    First time buyers who read this book will feel a little more confident, especially with reading articles and books pertaining to buying/investing in a home.

    4 out of 5 stars Mortgages For Dummies, 2nd Edition.......2007-05-18

    Very well written... useful not only for mortgage shoppers but also for professionals working in fields related to Financial Services!

    5 out of 5 stars Saved me a fortune!!!!!!.......2007-05-01

    This book saved me about $22,000 when I purchased my house. It prepared me to know what to look for and what to ask for when searching for a mortgage! I had purchased the home buying for dummies book and while reading that I learned I needed to know so much more about the financing aspect. Since it was my first home purchase I was clueless. This book walked me through and helped me discover what my personal needs were. I found my dream house, a perfect fit mortgage, and closed all in 2 weeks. AMAZING!

    3 out of 5 stars very little substance.......2007-04-29

    As a first-time homebuyer, I was looking for some in-depth knowledge of mortgages. This wasn't it. It gave a very broad overview and told me very little that I didn't already know. It is fine for the true dummies out there.

    5 out of 5 stars Loan Officer Info.......2007-04-04

    This book was wonderful to read even though it is geared toward the person buying a mortgage, and I am a loan officer, that sells the mortgage. It had numerous terms spelled out so they could be easily understood. It marked off warning signs of things to stay away from. I feel this book will be in my desk for use constantly.
    The Simple Home: The Luxury of Enough (American Institute Architects)
    Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    • Houses that live large for their owners
    • Eye-opening book
    • Defines the concept of a 'simple home'
    • Great Book!
    • Hmmm?
    The Simple Home: The Luxury of Enough (American Institute Architects)
    Sarah Nettleton
    Manufacturer: Taunton
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

    GeneralGeneral | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
    ResidentialResidential | Building Types & Styles | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Interior Design | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
    StyleStyle | Interior Design | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Real Estate | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
    Do-It-YourselfDo-It-Yourself | How-to & Home Improvements | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
    DecoratingDecorating | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
    StyleStyle | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
    Similar Items:
    1. The Barefoot Home: Dressed-Down Design for Casual Living The Barefoot Home: Dressed-Down Design for Casual Living
    2. Crossing Boundaries: A Global Vision of Design Crossing Boundaries: A Global Vision of Design
    3. Let's Get Comfortable Let's Get Comfortable
    4. The Not So Big Life: Making Room for What Really Matters The Not So Big Life: Making Room for What Really Matters
    5. Prefabulous: The House of Your Dreams Delivered Fresh from the Factory Prefabulous: The House of Your Dreams Delivered Fresh from the Factory

    ASIN: 1561588318
    Release Date: 2007-02-27

    Book Description

    For everyone who craves a simpler lifestyle, not only in how they live but also where they live, The Simple Home features 21 houses and presents six different approaches to creating a home that realizes its full potential both simply and elegantly.

    We are living in complex times, in a commodified, virtual, and overstimulated culture. One response to high levels of complexity and overstimulation is to look for yet another gadget or closet organizer to simplify our lives. But the answer lies somewhere else. The road to a simpler more satisfying life begins with a clear-eyed examination of the choices we are making for our time--and that includes choices about where we want to live.

    The Simple Home presents six paths to simplicity, each illustrated by human-scaled, unadorned homes with straightforward floor plans and forms. These are open, light-filled homes (with rooms or spaces that are often multipurpose) that express their beauty in their utility and practicality. Simple homes are low maintenance and often green, designed for homeowners who wish to embody a different set of values in their housing choices than the run-of-the-mill starter castles littering the landscape.

    The 6 Paths to Simplicity:
        1. Simple is Enough
        2. Simple is Thrifty
        3. Simple is Flexible
        4. Simple is Timeless
        5. Simple is Sustainable
        6. Simple is Refined

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Houses that live large for their owners.......2007-08-17

    Wonderful case studies about 20 homes with good explanations about material choices, site considerations, and the people who own them. It's a Taunton Press book, so the photos are great, of course. I especially like the floor plan illustrations that support the photos and give a sense of flow through the houses.

    5 out of 5 stars Eye-opening book.......2007-08-04

    This book is amazing! The pictures are great, and so well coordinated with the text that the reader can truly "see" each house. For anyone dreaming of a second home, or a more efficient first home, this is an ideal volume.

    5 out of 5 stars Defines the concept of a 'simple home' .......2007-07-08

    Sarah Nettleton's THE SIMPLE HOME: THE LUXURY OF ENOUGH defines the concept of a 'simple home' and offers interior design tips to achieving satisfaction from a basic home design. This involves eliminating non-essentials and practicing restraint: six avenues to achieving a 'greener' lifestyle from this approach blends full-page color photos with comments on designs which refine and simplify the home - perfect for new students of interior design and homeowners contemplating reconstruction.

    5 out of 5 stars Great Book!.......2007-05-14

    Wonderful pictures! This book has so many great stories of the home and how people really make their houses simple and comfortable.

    1 out of 5 stars Hmmm?.......2007-05-12

    My copy came with many scratches on the dust cover and a broken binding when I opened the book. As far as the contents...I was expecting more of a layman friendly simple life-style type approach. Instead I felt like I was buying a book a self-contractor could use. My perusal indicated more about architecture as opposed to simplifying home content. Not a happy camper with this book. I returned it.

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    1. The Somerset Hills (New Jersey Country Houses)
    2. The Unexpected George Washington: His Private Life
    3. The Victorian Home: The Grandeur and Comforts of the Victorian Era, in Households Past and Present
    4. The Virgin's Lover
    5. Tree Houses You Can Actually Build: A Weekend Project Book (Stiles, David R. Weekend Project Book Series.)
    6. Windows and Doors (Build Like A Pro)
    7. A House on the Water: Inspiration for Living at the Water's Edge
    8. A Mormon in the White House?: 10 Things Every American Should Know about Mitt Romney
    9. Adobe Details
    10. All the Presidents' Pastries: Twenty-Five Years in the White House, A Memoir

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