akihabaratech 's Bookmarks tagged books-review →  View Popular

From Publishers Weekly

Opening with a chapter titled "How to Make 500 to 1,000 Percent on Your Money," this book offers a compelling argument that real estate is an auspicious way to invest. Carr warns readers, however, that "what they won’t find here are unbelievable claims of overnight successes that will load up their bank accounts in just a few weeks." Rather, he provides a practical, step-by-step explanation of how the real estate market works, how to develop an understanding of it, who the key players are, what various loan programs offer, how to negotiate and how to avoid problems with renters. A former real estate editor for The Washington Times, Carr includes plenty of details about the basics—enough for novices—without being patronizing, and hits upon seemingly complicated topics like foreclosures and tax liens with accessible language and concise arrangement, including bullet points and sections that make dense text nicely readable.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.




Publishers Weekly

"Carr includes plenty of details about the basics-enough for novices---including bullet points and sections that make dense text nicely readable."

From Publishers Weekly

The "Scam-Alert" columnist from the AARP newsletter, Kirchheimer has authored or edited 12-plus Ralph Nader-like salvos aimed at taking out consumer-directed fraud. Kirchheimer interviewed "nearly 100 reformed scammers" for this compendium of recent bilking schemes and corner-cuttings. His advice covers most major mid-life expenses, from buying a new car to buying a home to paying for college to booking a cruise. Chapters on credit cards and identity-theft go into greater depth than most coverage these issues usually get in similar books. Three chapters on healthcare go into detail on everything from drug pricing to malpractice. A final "Roundup of Common Scams" (including the infamous "Nigerian Letter" and cyber "phishing" scams) will leave readers well-informed, and perhaps slightly paranoid. Most helpful is the careful, practical way in which Kirchheimer walks readers through such tasks as reading a phone bill, where to go to find eldercare, or to whom they can complain about shady financial dealings.