REAL ESTATE CONSUMER NOTEBOOK
THE 10 BEST REAL ESTATE
BOOKS OF 2001

Today, we honor the very best "top 10" real estate books of 2001. All of these books received very favorable reviews. Each book is available in stock or by special order at better bookstores, public libraries, and www.amazon.com. Here are the 10 best real estate books of 2001:

HOME BUYING FOR DUMMIES, SECOND EDITION By Eric Tyson and Ray Brown (Hungry Minds, Inc., New York) $21.99, 306 pages. This "fun read" book for home buyers includes all the important essentials, laced with humor and practical advice. The new material on Internet resources updates this classic "how to buy a home" book. Of the many books on this topic, this is by far the best. REAL ESTATE A LA CARTE By Julie Garton-Good (Dearborn-Kaplan Publishing Co., Chicago), $17.95, 250 pages. Aimed primarily at home sellers, but also highly useful for home buyers, this unique book explains how home sellers and buyers can purchase just the reduced-cost professional ervices they need from real estate brokers. The highly-respected author, a realty broker in three states, explains why savvy realty agents should offer fee-for-services to home buyers and sellers who want less than full service. HOW TO SELL YOUR HOME WITHOUT A BROKER, THIRD EDITION By Bill Carey, Chantal Howell Carey, and Suzanne Kiffmann (John Wiley and Sons, New York), $19.95, 160 pages. Real estate agents have nothing to fear from this book. They should give a copy to every "for sale by owner." It carefully details all the work do-it-yourself home sellers should anticipate when selling their homes without professional help. Most will give up and realize the benefits of hiring a realty agent to get their home sold. HOW TO GET THE BEST HOME LOAN, SECOND EDITION By W. Frazier Bell (John Wiley and Sons, New York), $16.95, 200 pages. Especially timely during the current home mortgage refinancing boom, this superb book explains how to locate the best home loan for your situation. From a mortgage banker's viewpoint, it emphasizes how some lenders take advantage of borrowers. The author reveals lender's dirty little secrets so borrowers won't get ripped-off. FIND IT, BUY IT, FIX IT, SECOND EDITION By Robert Irwin (Dearborn-Kaplan Publishing Co., Chicago) $15.95, 198 pages. Whether you want to buy your first home, or an investment property, this book explains the pros and cons of buying profitable residential property which needs fix-up work. The prolific real estate author shares his many personal experiences of how to look for profitable improvements which can add value to property purchases. INVESTING IN REAL ESTATE, THIRD EDITION By Andrew McLean and Gary W. Eldred (John Wiley and Sons, New York), $19.95, 308 pages. This is the best of the 2001 real estate books for investors. It explains all the basics, filled with many personal examples, emphasizing how to profit by acquiring profitable properties. PROPERTY MANAGEMENT FOR DUMMIES By Robert Griswold (Hungry Minds, Inc., New York) $21.99, 336 pages. Whether you own or are thinking of acquiring rental property, this great book explains professional property management techniques. Written by a "pro" with over 20 years experience managing over 600 properties and more than 35,000 rentals, the author shares practical advice for landlords who want to avoid problems. FLIPPING PROPERTIES By William Bronchick and Robert Dahlstorm (Dearborn-Kaplan Publishing Co., Chicago), $18.95, 154 pages. This unusual realty investment book recommends "flip and grow rich." It is about acquiring investment property at below-market prices, quickly fixing them up, and then profitably reselling. The authors explain the three types of "flipper" properties and how to locate these property bargains. NEIGHBOR LAW, FOURTH EDITION By Cora Jordan (Nolo Press, Berkeley, CA) $26.95, 254 pages. Whether you own a house, condo or rental property, this invaluable book answers virtually every question regarding fences, trees, boundaries, noises, and other neighbor problems. This detailed "how to" book explains practical and legal methods of resolving neighbor problems at minimum cost, usually without going to court. LANDLORDING, NINTH EDITION By Leigh Robinson (Express Publishing Co., El Cerrito, CA), $27.95, 375 pages. This best-selling property management book, which has sold over 300,000 copies, is in a new format, including fresh material on how to manage real estate using computers. Practical "how to do it" problem-solving methods are emphasized. The book includes forms for virtually every property management situation.

HONORABLE MENTION:

MAKE YOUR OWN LIVING TRUST, FOURTH EDITION By Denis Clifford (Nolo Press, Berkeley, CA), $34.95, 200 pages. plus CD living trust forms. Although not strictly a real estate book, every home and rental property owner should read this superb book which explains how to avoid probate costs and delays by use of a living trust. It anticipates and answers virtually every possible real estate inheritance question, along with practical advice. The included forms can be used to create your own living trust. INSPECTING A HOUSE By Rex Cauldwell (Taunton Press, Newtown, CT), $24.95, 260 pages. Written for professional home inspectors, this ultra-complete book explains what to look for when inspecting houses. The checklists are very thorough and the color photos make this an invaluable reference book for anyone interested in home inspections. RENTERS'S RIGHTS: THE BASICS, SECOND EDITION By Attorney Janet Portman and Marcia Stewart (Nolo Press, Berkeley, CA), $24.95, 210 pages. If you are a renter or a landlord, you'll enjoy this practical book explaining renter's rights and how landlords can avoid tenant problems. The authors take the attitude the landlord is in charge but tenants have rights which they should assert without being bullied by landlords. BUILDING YOUR OWN HOUSE By Robert Roskind (Ten Speed Press, Berkeley, CA), $35.00, 628 pages. This monumental two-books-in-one consists of (1) constructing home exteriors and (2) building the interior portions such as plumbing, electrical, drywall, doors, painting, and hardwood floors. The drawings and color photos are outstanding. This is a "must read" book for do-it-yourself home builders. POWER TIPS FOR SELLING A HOUSE FOR MORE By Robert Irwin (McGraw-Hill, New York), $14.95, 231 pages. Jam-packed with 54 home sales tips, explained in short chapters, this book shows home sellers how to get their homes sold and how to maximize the sales price. The emphasis is on getting the home sold and avoiding trouble, such as by disclosing any home defects so the buyer has no basis to complain later. FORMULAS FOR WEALTH By Richard C. Powelson (Skyward Publishing, Dallas, TX), $29.95, 350 pages. Written by an experienced realty investor and retired Realtor, this book explains techniques for acquiring profitable investment property with little or no cash. It is a sophisticated book which emphasizes creative finance methods which many of today's new real estate investors have yet to learn. SECRETS OF A MILLIONAIRE LANDLORD By Robert Shemin (Dearborn Publishing Co., Chicago), $18.95, 124 pages. This "hands-on" property management book highlights practical techniques most rental property owners don't know. Some suggestions are questionable, such as inspecting each rental every 60 days, but most are very innovative. This "take it or leave it" book might be too controversial for many landlords.