Book Description
Amass more than $900,000 in properties in one year, without using any of your own money, or that of your investors.
Real estate investing can be an excellent way to build wealth. With its advantages of cash flow, appreciation, tax benefits, equity buildup and leveraging, real estate may be the only vehicle that can carry the average person to retirement wealth.
Real estate investor, attorney, and author Larry Loftis has developed a safe, easy, and lucrative way for new investors to get into the game, and for experienced ones to enhance their portfolios. In Investing in Duplexes, Triplexes and Quads: The Fastest and Safest Way to Real Estate Wealth, he draws on both his real estate investing experience and legal acumen to explore advantages you may not have considered about residential multifamily properties of two to four units.
Learn how to:
•Buy duplexes, triplexes and quads with no money down, AND get cash back at closing.
•Eliminate risk, and guarantee that your mortgage payments are always covered.
•Use ""cash-out"" from refinancing to purchase more properties.
•Decide whether to buy and hold or ""pyramid"" to a large apartment complex.
•Use inflation, tax laws, and rehab to build a massive retirement nest-egg.
Customer Reviews:
Decent investment book, but overly optimistic.......2007-08-18
The basic investing information in this book is solid, the problem is that the plan for gaining wealth is overly optimistic for many areas of the United States. Larry bases his wealth building plan on very fortunate appreciation that he experienced on his first investment property. Then as the plan is taught you refinance that first property after one year and use that money to buy another property. In Orlando, FL (where Larry bought his property) around that time the appreciation was 25%, but what about the least appreciating cities like the one where I live at 3%? Then the wealth building plan that Larry talks about goes out the window.
I thought the best part of the book was the info on closing, ideas that I have not reading anywhere else. Word of advice, skip over the property management chapter, the weakest chapter in the book where Larry advocates screening tenant by using your "gut". That is a recipe for disaster.
WOW!!!!!!!!!.......2007-08-16
Strongly recommend reading this book regardless of your level of expertise. I've learned, been motivated, and have a better insight of investing in income properties. Very simple to read and understand.
Great Book.......2007-08-08
The author is very knowledgeable, very honest with the subject because he actually practices what he preaches.
Definitely Worth Buying.......2007-08-06
I brought about 3 books on real estate investing. I, too, have a three apartment building and a small investment property. When I look back a few years ago, I wish I actually have read this book to evaluate the potential purchases. I did okay in the end, but having to know the concepts and the GRM (Gross Rent Multiples) was the simplest thing to understand and only consistent way for me to compare investments properties. Other books tell you to compare the recent comparable sales, the replacement cost, building cost, etc to come up with the right figures. Frankly, those 'tools' mentioned in other books were not as useful as the GRM method mentioned in this book. The author also explains how the GRM changes, depending on the neighborhood and the locations. So, having that knowledge, I am able to compare properties very quickly to weed out the ones that I do not want. Once I have narrowed down the list of potential properties, then I can use the other methods to do the detailed analysis. I feel better now that I can now compare apples to apples. The sections toward the end were skimpy, but the overall value of this book is great. I recommend to a novice investor, as well as someone like myself who has been in it for about 6 years and still have a lot to learn.
Basic Read.......2007-08-02
Great book for beginner investors who want the basics of multi-unit investing. There are a lot of strategies that can be learned from his experiences.
This book would go great with another book I read called Bubble Proof: Real Estate Strategies that Work in any Market by Tonja Demoff. She has such a great attitude and spin on real estate investing.
Book Description
Welcome to 44 Scotland Street, home to some of Edinburgh's most colorful characters. There's Pat, a twenty-year-old who has recently moved into a flat with Bruce, an athletic young man with a keen awareness of his own appearance. Their neighbor, Domenica, is an eccentric and insightful widow. In the flat below are Irene and her appealing son Bertie, who is the victim of his mother’s desire for him to learn the saxophone and italian–all at the tender age of five.
Love triangles, a lost painting, intriguing new friends, and an encounter with a famous Scottish crime writer are just a few of the ingredients that add to this delightful and witty portrait of Edinburgh society, which was first published as a serial in The Scotsman newspaper.
Customer Reviews:
Nice try, but..........2007-10-13
...this experiment did not work. I've read two of his other books, and they were a light, cute diversion -- not great literature, but entertainment. This novel isn't even that. The plot frequently goes nowhere, and has many loose ends that he never ties. The writing is trite, the observations pedestrian and cliched.
Delicious slice of Edinburgh life!.......2007-09-24
This book was written for The Scotsman newspaper in serial form, as many of Charles Dickens's novels were. It's not Dickensian, but Smith's view of the purpose of fiction is certainly compatible with Dickens's - "to remind us of the virtues - of love and forgiveness, for example - and these can be portrayed just as well in an ongoing story of everyday life as they can on a more ambitious and more leisurely canvas." That is not to say that this book is dull or moralizing - far from it! Smith's sly wit enlivens each character and scene and makes me think more of Austen than of Dickens. It is no easy feat to write article-length chapters interesting in themselves, that are connected in theme and tone, with a central plot thread which is tied up satisfactorily in the end (at least for me...some reviewers have disagreed). Smith has done it.
The cast of characters here is presumably the one that we will meet in the next two novels of the series, Espresso Tales and Love Over Scotland. Smith has left loose ends for future exploration. These characters may not equal the popularity of his Botswana folks (Mma Ramotswe of the Ladies Detective Agency) but it's a very close call. It's satisfying to watch Pat (the twenty-year old in search of work and love and social life) grow in realizing and acting on her own very good judgment of people and situations. Pat's older sidekicks, Domenica and Angus, are witty sophisticates with a taste for the down-to-earth - Pat probably won't turn out to be like them, but they are an amusing counterbalance for her innocence and honesty.
Bruce - aaaahhhhh, Bruce! Bruce deserves his own paragraph, as he would certainly tell us. No more about Bruce, you gotta read it. Irene, our other over-the-top manipulator, is equally amazing, in a much more intellectual way. I still can't get over the idea of a Stockhausen ringtone...anyway, that's the snobby nouveau-riche side of Edinburgh for you. And Bertie, Irene's son, is right up there with Pat as the most interesting character. We are going to see much more of Bertie, I hope. Matthew, Pat's "boss" (if it is possible to think of Matthew as a boss), will continue to surprise us.
Edinburgh itself is a character in the book. Some of Scotland's poets and politicians appear in this book (the introduction fills us in on who is real and who is not), and as we get to know them and hear some of their poems (courtesy of Domenica and Angus), we feel that we are beginning to know this place, its past and present. Big Lou, the coffee-shop owner who reads Proust, is fictional, but I bet there is someone close to being Big Lou in Edinburgh somewhere. One day I'm going to meet her!
If you like the Botswana series, give this one a try! I'm betting you will be hooked.
Wonderfully Enjoyable Book.......2007-09-22
I picked this (and the sequel) up on my way back from a business trip in the U.K. I've read all of Mccall Smith's "#1 Lady Detective Agency Books" so I thought I'd give this a go.
The book is excellent and an incredible joy to read. I started and finished the book on the 7 hour flight back, and many times laughed out loud at some of the humor and the fascinating characters.
I'll say this - every book I read by Mccall Smith makes me want to go visit the country in which it's set. This is no different. Edinburgh in Scotland is high on the agenda for the next trip.
If you're traveling overseas, buy this first book for the trip over, then wait to get the sequel for the return flight.
makes you want to visit Scotland.......2007-07-29
Good characters, an alluring setting and a good tale make this series an enjoyable read. You will be eager to read the next one.
hilarious.......2007-05-21
This book is absolutely hilarious. The characters, while apparently quintessentially Scottish, are easily relatable to anyone of any nationality in that you sit there and think, "I know someone exactly like that!" You do not have to be from Edinburgh to find this book laugh-out-loud funny. True, there is not much of a resolution at the end, but this book is one of the few instances where the writing is the point, not the plot (which is enjoyable on its own anyway). I can't wait to read the sequel.
Book Description
Whether youre a first-time real estate investor or a seasoned professional, The Complete Guide to Buying and Selling Apartment Buildings helps you map out your future, find apartment buildings at a fair price, finance purchases, and manage your properties. Now revised and expanded, this Second Edition includes tax planning advice, case studies of real acquisitions, and appendixes that add detail to the big picture. Plus, it includes a handy glossary of all the terms investors need to know, helpful sample forms that make paperwork quick and easy, and updated real estate forecasts. With this comprehensive guide at hand youll find profits easy to come by.
Download Description
Whether you¿re a first-time real estate investor or a seasoned professional, The Complete Guide to Buying and Selling Apartment Buildings helps you map out your future, find apartment buildings at a fair price, finance purchases, and manage your properties. Now revised and expanded, this Second Edition includes tax planning advice, case studies of real acquisitions, and appendixes that add detail to the big picture. Plus, it includes a handy glossary of all the terms investors need to know, helpful sample forms that make paperwork quick and easy, and updated real estate forecasts. With this comprehensive guide at hand you¿ll find profits easy to come by.
Customer Reviews:
A Great Introductory Investment Real Estate Overview.......2007-05-16
I've read several realestate investment books and this is the most comprehensive. It covers all aspects of finding, negotiating, financing and managing apartment building investments. Additional reading and investigation will still be required; however this is a great place to begin.
Great Read, Extremely Valuable........2007-04-22
With all the hype out there in the real estate investing space, it's refreshing to read a book that is honest, intellectual, and driven by a solid foundation in financial analysis.
Steve Berges does an outstanding job of walking the reader through general concepts, straight-forward examples, and detailed case studies. The financial analysis might be a little overwhelming to someone who is being introduced to so many financial concepts for the first time. If you don't have an understanding of finance, I'd recommend hitting Google or a Finance textbook to help get through the financial sections.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and thought it was packed full of valuable tips and information. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in adding apartment buildings to their real estate repertoire.
If you don't yet know how you want to invest............2007-04-11
...this is an excellent read. I had never given apartments a thought until reading Steve Berges. Now they are in the mix. The charts in Chapter 8 are a bit tedious, especially to a beginner, but by the time you get to the end of the book, you will know if buying and selling (or keeping) apartments is for you. Pay attention to what Berges says about the value play (Chapter4).
Well written guide.......2006-08-20
This book is a concise well written guide to the core issues of buying, owning and selling multifamily buildings. It was extremely valuable in evaluating our first purchase of a multi-family structure.
4.5 stars for another good book by Steve Berges.......2006-08-17
As a real estate investor and author myself, I read a lot of real estate books. Many, if not most, are written by folks who do not invest in real estate themselves; they only write about it. Berges is not one of them. He knows his stuff and it's clear that he practices what he preaches. I have read three of his books and, I must say, he's one of my favorite real estate authors. You can trust what he says. Experienced investors may want a bit more detail from Steve, but what he does say is accurate and safe. This is a good book on buying apartments. In fact, in my own book, "Investing in Duplexes, Triplexes & Quads," I list the best books I've read on different areas of real estate. This book is the ONLY book I recommend on investing in commercial multifamily (ie, apartments of 5 units and up) properties.
Having given those accolades, here are a few of my constructive criticisms:
1. On pages 37 and 38, Steve gives nice charts illustrating the long-term financial benefits of investing in multifamily properties. On page 39, however, there is an error in referring to the big numbers shown. The reference is made to Investor A's "equity" of $2.1 million and Investor B's (the multifamily property investor) equity of $92 million. I just don't think Steve caught this, but those numbers don't refer to the investor's equity, but to the fair market value of his collective assets (his properties). The investor's equity might be in the range of 20% of that. I do like the charts, however, and I used a similar analysis in my recent book. One other note on the charts - they presume selling and buying exactly at the end of one year - a difficult task as Steve would surely admit. On average, I think 18 months to two years is a better time frame for flipping apartments.
2. Refinancing - Steve didn't give a chart showing the long-range effect of the "buy, hold and refy" strategy (using proceeds to buy again, but retaining the first property). In addition, Steve only mentioned the general banking guideline that you can only pull out cash up to 80% of the new appraised value (i.e., the bank has an LTV of 80%). However, you can get around this. I've done it. It requires a second lender giving a second mortgage, with a CLTV (combined loan to value) of up to 90%. As such, you can pull out much more cash.
3. GRM - gross rent multiplier. In his financial analysis section, Steve doesn't give much detail or provide real life examples on this crucial analysis factor. Granted, the cap rate is the analysis primarily used for commercial real estate, while the GRM is the one used for residential multifamily (2-4 units) real estate. Since many owners and selling brokers will "fudge" on expenses, a cap rate can be very hard to verify. The GRM, however, is fairly simple - just look at the lease agreements.
4. Lack of coverage on residential multifamily apartments. In fact, this is why I wrote my book on this topic. If Steve had covered it here, I would not have written mine. I like Steve's writing style and he knows his stuff. But for investing in small multifamily properties (certainly on residential, but probably up to about 10 units), we really have to cover valuation and selection of properties using the GRM. That and I felt like the "buy, hold, and refy" strategy needed much more coverage.
But for investing in commercial multifamily properties, I recommend this book as the only good one on the market.
Larry Loftis
Author: Investing in Duplexes, Triplexes and Quads: The Fastest and Safest Way to Real Estate Wealth
Book Description
This is the only book that gives homeowners who are dreaming about building or planning to build a new home the good and the bad on all types of prefabricated houses. Shows that prefabricated can be mainstream traditional design and does not have to look like a mobile home or a modular "Dwell" box.
Prefabulous describes the many systems available for prefabricating all or parts of a new home, including timber frame and log, as well as modular, panelized, structural insulated panels, steel framing and concrete systems, which are relatively new. Prefabulous describes these systems, compares their advantages and disadvantages, and shows beautiful examples of houses built using these techniques. Although all of these "prefabricated" houses look very different, all of them were manufactured partially or almost completely in a controlled factory environment and transported to the home site to be erected. As a group these systems offer a faster, more energy-efficient, and sometimes more cost-efficient method of building.
Includes a foreword by Not So Big House author Sarah Susanka, who writes: "For homeowners who want to know the options, the advantages and disadvantages of those options, and to see how those prefabricated parts come together into a good, attractive home, read this book."
Customer Reviews:
Prefabulous.......2007-09-20
Very informative book. A must read for anyone thinking of building an upscale prefab house.
Fabulous is right!.......2007-08-24
Sheri Koones has done another remarkable job showing the benefits and cusomization capabilities of systems-built homes. The press has made 'pre-fab' a common term over the last few years, and this book helps to showcase the many types of quality, code-compliant, factory built homes. As Executive Director of the Building Systems Councils at the National Association of Home Builders, I know many of our members own copies of this book and are proud to see systems-built homes get the recognition they deserve for being such great ways to build. The book is extremely well done, outlining the types, options, floorplans, and design choices of systems-built homes. There is no other book like it.
Long on promise, short on substance.......2007-08-23
I purchased this book along with another book about "modular" homes by the same author titled "Modular Mansions". I am terribly disappointed by both the books and I am leaving this same exact review for the other book as well.
The book is nothing more than pretty pictures. It offers very little in substance. While the book does profile several large houses constructed in a modular fashion, the author seem to have neither the inclination nor the construction background to discuss the meat and potatoes issues. The book is sprinkled with platitudes and how various home owners chose to decorate their homes. I would have liked to see discussions about how the actual construction was accomplished, what the pitfalls have been, some rudimentary floor plans etc. An in-depth profile of at least one of the houses including perhaps a sit-down with the architect as to how the pieces fit together would have been better than the sheer fluff that fills the pages.
It seems the author was exposed to the modular way of building homes rather by accident and while she seems genuinely enthusiastic about this method, she does not possess proper education/training/experience to guide a reader properly. Instead, she chose to produce this coffee table book that is pretty to look at but offers little else. I was suckered by the promise of modular homes into ordering both the "coffee table" books by this author at the same time and both are equally disappointing.
Modular type of construction does offer some promise in very specific cases for an educated home owner/builder that can take advantage of the efficiencies of this method while avoiding the various pitfalls. But do not buy these books expecting to be educated. You are better of researching somewhere else where true professionals offer advice in this area.
Extraordinary Approach To Housing.......2007-07-23
I had no idea factory built homes existed at anything close to this level of detail, craftsmanship, beauty, variety, durability and more.
This is an excellent book which incorporates all the major types of factory built homes outside of manufactured homes and mobile homes. I now have an entirely new perspective on the current and future state of housing in our country, especially here in Miami, Florida.
As a result of this tremendous "discovery," I am putting together a team of dedicated professionals to assess the viability of the construction applications (residential, commercial and otherwise) featured in this book for the South Florida market.
Every one of my colleagues, friends, family and others have been absolutely amazed at the contents of this book.
You will not be disappointed with this outstanding piece of work even if you employ its use for educational or edification purposes only, or just as a conversation piece for your coffee table.
FAB.......2007-06-08
This book is very helpful in learning about the different choices you have for building. Worth buying if you are looking for something besides standard stick built house.
Book Description
With a little imagination and creativity--and without hiring a professional--almost anyone can transform a small living space into a comfortable and stylish environment. Whether decorating a dorm room, an apartment, or a little cottage, what we strive for is a look and feel that expresses our individual personalities. Part style guide, part idea sourcebook, this handy volume--designed to meet the needs of real people with real budgets--is packed with smart ideas, basic design principles, and enough inspiration to get you off the sofa to make it happen.
In her lively, informative text, design guru Marisa Bartolucci takes readers inside 33 small homes from cities across the U.S. to reveal how a strong sense of style--rather than design know-how or unlimited resources--is the most effective tool for transforming an ordinary cramped living space into a smart yet functional private sanctuary.
Customer Reviews:
Lots of inspiration.......2007-09-22
Love the way the book shows apartments of varying small sizes and multiple solutions for small-space dilemmas (like little room for sleeping, tiny kitchens). I was able to brainstorm a solution for my own apartment after one look through this book.
My only complaint is that there are no product resources listed--just designers' names and contact information.
Fabulousity on a budget.......2007-06-01
Well, I guess I'll add my voice to the chorus of reviewers for this book:
This is a jewel of a book. Lots of fabulous examples of small spaces with a lot of character. People who love art, collect books and appreciate unexpected decorating ideas will enjoy this book."
A lovely book that could use a bit of fine-tuning to best serve its intended readership.......2007-04-06
I really liked this book, but it only gets 4 out of 5 stars because I think the definition of "small spaces" is too broad. This book would be better if it showcased twice as many spaces from 100-600sqf, rather than going all the way up to 1000. Maybe for people who don't live in cities, 1000sqf is tiny, but I think a lot of the book's target audience would find that amount of space to be truly palatial. Many of the larger spaces had yards or terraces, sometimes doubling the real amount of living space, so that feels like a "cheat" to me. I got the most ideas out of the first half of the book, and the rest of the book was enjoyable as a general interior design book rather than a "small spaces" design book. Many of the featured homes' remodels involve knocking out walls and really re-working a space, so if you're a renter looking for what you can do with a small space you don't own, you might be disappointed. All in all, a very nice book with wonderful photographs, I just wish there was a greater focus on spaces under 600sqf, and more creative rentals being showcased for readers who are renters.
Really small spaces!.......2007-03-26
A small but pretty coffee table book with great content and some good ideas for living in tiny, tiny spaces.
1) 16 of the 33 profiled spaces were 500 sq ft or less! The other 17 were 600 - 1000 sq ft in size. I haven't seen many books on small space living that focus on this size range. Most books seem to present 2000 sqft houses as tiny.
2) The owners of these spaces didn't all have an unlimited budget. Many were in rentals so gut renovations, moving walls, etc was not an option. Many did have expensive or design worthy furniture and art but quite a few were heavily furnished with IKEA and thrift store finds.
3) Most of the owners had to be very carefull with clutter and picking pieces that would work in the space and that they really loved. Some of the other Amazon reviews found this to be somewhat unrealistic but I think that when you live in such small spaces, you are going to have to keep things very neat and tidy.
4) Part of the title is "expressing personal style". There is plenty of that in the book mostly clustered around what I'll call "modern" (eams etc), "drama" (red, red everywhere), "eclectic" (high design items mixed with garage sale items) and "standard" (danish). Many of the owners have extensive collections that are well presented and show off their unique personal style.
5) Most of these places are inhabited by: architects, artists, interior decorators, makeup artists, writers, curators, floral designers, etc. Essentially those who are in the "profession". I got the impression that hiring someone is de rigur if you are an accountant or fireman.
6) I liked the organization of the book by size of the space, architectural diagram of the space, lots of well shot photos, a narrative of who the residents are and how the space came to be and a picture of the residents.
7) One of my favorites were Francisco Parod and Ximena Orozco, the couple from Mexico living in a 450sqft NY apartment...with a baby! Not only did it look comfortable and open, they furnished almost everything at IKEA. My other favorite was Karen Meyer. She had translucent screens that could slide between the living room and dining room. This provided flexibility to the spaces by making it more expansive or more private, as needed. A murphy bed that was behind a shelf unit in the dining room could be opened up to create a guest room. A nice example of rooms doing double duty.
All in all, the best book I've found for realistic ideas for very small spaces.
Living Large in Small Spaces.......2007-03-19
Although I was not overwhelmed with inspiration, I liked the set-up of this book. The spaces are grouped by square footage complete with pictures of all areas of the space and a floor plan so that you can visualize how the spaces fit together. I also liked the fact that there were various design styles. However, I could not visualize myself living in the majority of the spaces displayed in this book. The majority of the homes displayed were homes of designers and artists. Since I myself am not a designer or an artist, I could and would not begin to design like what was displayed in this book.
Book Description
Highly regarded for comprehensiveness and quality, ULI's handbooks have provided real estate professionals with practical advice and authoritative information on the development process for decades.
The Multifamily Housing Development Handbook covers best practices and proven techniques for a wide range of project types and settings. Each aspect of the development process is explained in detail, from market analysis and financing to product design and operations.
Rich with color photos, examples, and case studies, the book describes the real-life experiences and strategies of seasoned developers, planners, and architects.
Highlights
Covers a wide variety of multifamily housing types and locations including garden, townhouse and high-rise project types, affordable and high-end price ranges, new, rehab, historic preservation, and adaptive reuse properties, urban and suburban locations, niche products such as student, military, and seniors housing
Includes practical, how-to information on the multifamily housing development process such as market analysis, site selection, feasibility, financing, planning, design, regulations, marketing, operations, and management.
Provides 14 illustrated case studies of successful projects that cover the site history and challenges, feasibility and financing, planning and design, marketing/leasing, experience gained, project costs, rental prices, and schedule.
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
FIRST MAJOR WORK PUBLISHED ON 20th CENTURY MASTER APARTMENT BUILDING DESIGNERS, ROSARIO CANDELA AND JAMES CARPENTER
Living on Park Avenue or Fifth could be regarded as a good sign you've arrived in New York but, for some, good is never quite good enough. True arbiters of taste define ultimate opulence by what hovers above and beyond the address: past the uniformed doorman, up the elevator, and across quiet thresholds. Here lies a world only a very privileged few call home — the coveted suites created by Rosario Candela and James Carpenter, time-honored masters of 20th century apartment house design.
Now, Acanthus Press offers the first major work on two of the most significant figures in the history of apartment house architecture: "The New York Apartment Houses of Rosario Candela and James Carpenter, by Apartments of the Affluent author Andrew Alpern.
Richly illustrated with archival photographs and floor plans, Alpern's book provides the architectural and social history of the great buildings of Candela and Carpenter, demonstrating the breadth of the designers' contribution to Manhattan's exterior and interior landscape. Added to the vintage photographs of elevations and interiors are later interiors done by some of New York's design elite: Buatta, Couturier, Cullman, Ferguson Shamamian & Rattner, Gwathmey, McMillen, Mark Hampton, Molyneux, Parish-Hadley, and others. Illuminating the volume with carefully researched facts and anecdotal narrative, the author demonstrates how Candela (1890-1953) and Carpenter (1867-1932) produced a golden age of apartment house design that was parallel to the golden age of New York's skyscrapers.
"Rosario Candela has replaced Stanford White as the real estate brokers' name-drop of choice," writes New York Times "Streetscapes" columnist, Christopher Gray. "Nowadays, to own a 10- to 20-room apartment in a Candela-designed building is to accede to architectural, as well as social cynosure."
Indeed, Candela and Carpenter not only understood the needs of discerning clientele; they effectively defined those needs. In concert with enlightened builders, these distinguished designers helped the affluent appreciate the amenities that separated the finest New York edifices from common residential buildings. "There was a wonderful assurance and solidity to his [Candela's] buildings," writes architecture critic Paul Goldberger. "They don't display any visible effort, in the greatest traditions of old money."
With well-proportioned rooms and imaginative layouts, Candela and Carpenter created the lavish structures that to this day continue to be the gold standard of Manhattan living spaces. More than a half-century later, their suites of rooms in the 124 remaining structures of the 127 they built prevail as the homes of the most successful New Yorkers.
The New York Apartment Houses of Rosario Candela and James Carpenter, features introductory essays by Christopher Gray and the prominent architectural designer David Netto.
Customer Reviews:
A Beautiful book of New York History and Architecture.......2006-07-15
An exquisite book! There are stories about each apartment house and how it came to be. I found the two architects, Candela and Carpenter, to be very interesting characters. The homes they designed are ahead of their time. The floor plans are fascinating. The book also shows, by the floor plans, how people lived and what their needs were. The authors even quote costs of building and tell of the people who lived there. If you like real estate you will find this fascinating.
Grand New York.......2005-08-30
Let me first say that I loved the period black and white photos of the buildings, I also appreciated the fact that all of the buildings mentioned came with requisite photos, that is a must in book of this sort. I really didn't know that much about these buildings nor the architects so this book gave me a real education, I came away more knowledged and very impressed. The attention to detail the architects employed in these buildings is amazing and the fact that so many are still extant is a tribute to the artistry and talent that went into designing and building them and obviously contempory wealthy apartment seekers appreciate these attributes or else we all know these buildings would have been pulled down long ago, just like so many of the Gilded Age mansions they replaced. This publishing house puts out such finely crafted books and this one does not disappoint, I highly recommend it.
Andrew Alpern's Labor of Love.......2001-12-27
Candela and Carpenter were two of New York's most noted architects of the inter-war era, specializing in luxury apartment buildings. Architectural historian Andrew Alpern has assembled a reference text of their buildings, organized in geographic sequence. In this book, a typical building has two pages dedicated to it. One page consists of a floor plan, and the facing page has a photo or rendering of the exterior, combined with a one-to-six sentence description. Also, there are several brief essays at the beginning of the book.
I enjoyed this volume, which Alpern has directed at a very narrow segment of readers, but it's not for everyone. This is a volume for architectural enthusiasts who are intrigued by room arrangements. Others might be better served by a book broader in scope (including some by this same author).
Alpern's best work yet.......2001-11-05
Alpern has written several books about New York apartment buildings and this is his best. This time he focuses exclusively on the genius of two ground-breaking designers, James Carpenter and Rosario Candela. If you are not adept at reading floor plans (of which there are many), it might not be immediately obvious what defines the genius of these two architects. It is the innovation of their layouts and the graciousness of their spaces that made apartment house living so desireable, allowing for the migration from town house to apartment building. Regardless, everyone will still enjoy the exterior and interior views of these great New York buildings and get a sense of how the rich really live. Alpern raises our awareness of the apartment house type in the City to a higher level, just as others had focused on the greatness of NYC's commercial structures.
Each building is described in detail and there is some chatty material about who lived where, who bought what, and maybe a little more of that would have added fun to the book. There is a chronology of all the buildings and I would have liked to have seen thumbnail pictures of the buildings next to the timeline, since the book is organized geographically. It is otherwise an excellent and elegant study of the complete apartment house works of these two great designers.
New York Luxe.......2001-10-26
Alpern has collected a comprehensive array of images and information both past and present that illustrate the breadth of work by Carpenter and Candela. Their buildings still house the privileged members of New York's social set that these apartment houses were designed for. Netto's intro is overwrought, pretentious and obviously included to lend a certain cachet from a card carrying member of Park Ave society. The book is a good visual reference, yet somewhat anticlimactic in it's format.
Book Description
An illustrated guide to "green" design strategies
"This is a book that many in the design community have been waiting for--a volume that clearly and succinctly lays out the strategies and tools at our disposal for creating interiors that will serve not only our clients' needs, but also those of the planet. Best of all, it's an inspiration to read, allowing each of us to see our way to becoming a part of the design solution needed for a sustainable future. If you are a designer, you need this book!"
--Sarah Susanka, FAIA, author of the Not So Big series and Home by Design
"This excellent book will benefit designers of residential interiors that incorporate sustainable design into their practices or are looking to begin to do so. Designers may be surprised by the variety of projects shown that are great examples of residential sustainable interiors."
--Bernadette Upton, ASID, LEED AP, founding member of the Sustainable Design Council and member of the Florida Green Building Coalition
Issues of sustainability and environmental consciousness have been increasingly important to designers of residential interiors. A leading firm that has built its expertise in addressing environmental concerns in residential interiors, Associates III presents solutions for the design practitioner in this book. Covering topics such as indoor air quality, identifying low-impact materials, conserving energy and water, and support of construction teams in reducing waste, Sustainable Residential Interiors provides designers with the necessary information and tools to integrate environmentally responsible design into their practice.
Sustainable Residential Interiors takes readers through an integrated design process, showing how sustainable principles and practices can be applied on virtually every level of interior design. Taking a practical, hands-on approach, this accessible and easy-to-understand resource guide includes:
* Visual examples of sustainable projects and applications
* Critical thinking about environmental issues within homes
* Guidelines for clients and project teams
* Helpful checklists for greening projects and specification
* In-depth information to promote understanding and assist in specifying interior finishes and furnishings
* Questions for manufacturers and vendors
* Effective methods of marketing sustainable design services
Customer Reviews:
Fundamental Book on Sustainable House Design.......2007-07-19
This book has the format of a text book and it is a fundamental read for any architect, interior designer or product designer. Very clear explanation of materials and systems used in construction, what is bad about them, what is the better alternative and why we should, as resposible beings, be practising sustainability. Not just recommended, it should be compulsory reading for every building professional and student!
Book Description
Alexander McCall Smith’s many fans will be pleased with this latest installment in the bestselling 44 Scotland Street series.
Back are all our favorite denizens of a Georgian townhouse in Edinburgh. Bertie the immensely talented six year old is now enrolled in kindergarten, and much to his dismay, has been clad in pink overalls for his first day of class. Bruce has lost his job as a surveyor, and between admiring glances in the mirror, is contemplating becoming a wine merchant. Pat is embarking on a new life at Edinburgh University and perhaps on a new relationship, courtesy of Domenica, her witty and worldly-wise neighbor. McCall Smith has much in store for them as the brief spell of glorious summer sunshine gives way to fall a season cursed with more traditionally Scottish weather.
Full of McCall Smith’s gentle humor and sympathy for his characters, Espresso Tales is also an affectionate portrait of a city and its people who, in the author’s own words, “make it one of the most vibrant and interesting places in the world.”
Customer Reviews:
Improvisation - perhaps more classical than jazz!.......2007-10-15
This is the second of the Scotland Street serial which has run daily in the Edinburgh newspaper, The Scotsman, and it betrays its origins more obviously than the first of the series (44 Scotland Street). 44 Scotland forms a near-miraculous whole - rare in a kind of writing which is very much like improvisation in that one cannot possibly know at the beginning how, or if, the ending will round out satisfactorily. This book is less satisfying in that way, and has more "slow spots" than the first (notably the 8 mercifully brief Ramsey Dunbarton sections, which dragged a bit for me).
BUT amazing things happen! Bertie escapes (but not in the chapter so titled)! Stuart asserts himself! Pat makes several important decisions (one of which I am sure will bear fruit in the next book). The narcissistic Bruce...is nearly wiped out but Lands On His Feet Again, as Bruce is wont to do. Matthew grows up rather a lot! Cyril the dog Bites An Important Ankle (To Rounds of Applause)! Big Lou stands up to a charming intellectual snob, and gets important news. I feel like I am writing the weekly soap opera summary! It IS indeed a bit like that, but much more entertaining and substantial than soap operas.
If you enjoyed 44 Scotland, you must read this one...even though improvisations are not always perfect, they are fascinating, like watching a juggler, and it's astonishing how many balls McCall Smith manages to catch. He wanted to stop after this one, but Edinburgh dwellers persuaded him to continue for at least one more book. I can't wait! I give this one 4 ½ stars, actually...
Edinburgh great and small .......2007-10-13
Espresso Tales is the sequel to 44 Scotland Street, featuring the inhabitants of a multifamily house at that address in Edinburgh, Scotland. The form of both books is rambling and linear, forgivably so in this case as they were originally released in serial form in the Scotsman newspaper.
In 44 Scotland Street, the main character was clearly Pat, a college-age young woman who was a little adrift in her life. Her encounters with her neighbors and at work formed the context for the stories in the book. In Espresso Tales, Pat is much less the main character. The book's focus shifts aimlessly between Pat, Bertie, the gifted kindergartener and his family, and other characters. Pat and Bertie's stories engage me more than others and I was impatient at times waiting for their turn in the spotlight.
A great part of the charm derives from the immense amount of detail provided of daily life in Edinburgh. This information is provided not in an encyclopedic way but in loving detail the way a portrait miniature would be painted. The characters are "types", but not stereotypes. Big Lou, the rough-spoken woman who runs the coffee shop has been reading philosophy on her own, and bristles when her intellectual customers patronize her. Not only does she "ken well" who Sisyphus was, she's read the Camus book about him, which is more than her educated customer can say.
If you enjoy Scotland, or enjoy the gentle charm of McCall Smith's writing, you'll enjoy this series. But start with 44 Scotland Street or you'll have trouble catching up.
Another engaging book from Alexander McCall Smith.......2007-07-29
This story was a fun, easy read with lots of good character development and interest to keep the pages turning. As usual, Mr. Smith has colorful, interesting characters, that pull you into their lives and cause you to psychoanalyze your own motives.
Savory.......2007-07-07
I actually had to pace myself, because I didn't want to finish to quickly and leave these wonderful characters of 44 Scotland Street. So many characters are gems, but the story that seems to hold the most interest is poor young Bertie and his overbearing monster of a mother. Can't wait for the third book this fall, and the knowledge that we'll luckily get to be with these interesting and offbeat inhabitants for a bit longer.
Another fun read by a prolific author.......2007-05-13
Alexander Mccall Smith has again produced another amusing tale with the characters of 44 Scotland Street. This sequel appeared as a column in "The Scotsman" and captures the lives of a diverse group of people. Smith's characters intrigue you--with all their idiosyncrasies and day-to-day dilemmas. Fun and light reading.
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