The Smart Money Guide to Buying a Home [Mass Market Paperback]

Flip Kenyon (Author), Heather Kenyon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1999

The Smart Money Guide to Buying a Home offers street-smart preparation for buying the right property at the right price, while avoiding financial pitfalls along the way. The step-by-step format guides you through each phase of the process, but goes way beyond the basics. Taking an investor's approach to purchasing residential real estate, it's perfect for both first-time home buyers and seasoned professionals.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

It's the biggest purchase of your life: Make it the best investment of your life. The Smart Money Guide to Buying a Home offers street-smart preparation for buying the right property at the right price, while avoiding financial pitfalls along the way. The step-by-step format guides you through each phase of the process, but goes way beyond the basics. Taking an investor's approach to buying residential real estate, it's perfect for both first time home buyers and seasoned professionals. The ten chapters, or steps, explain everything you need to know to buy a great home and a great investment, including: How to save on taxes and build wealth through home ownership. How to wisely finance your home and avoid mortgage pitfalls. How to get the competitive edge using an exclusive buyer representative, and how only these agents can help you buy the best home at the lowest price. How to determine what you can afford, and what to expect when applying for a loan. How to choose a home that's right for you. How to and how not to buy a home, and 20 ways to maximize investment potential when choosing your home. How to determine what a home is really worth to avoid overpaying. How to make a smart offer and protect yourself with a shrewd sales contract and the right home inspection. How to save money on closing costs and homeowner's insurance. How to make your new house a home, with tips on moving and improving your purchase with upgrades that will really add to value. Also included is the ultimate residential real estate glossary of terms and an index filled with many of the real estate forms you'll see throughout the process of buying a home.

About the Author

The authors of the book are experts in real estate value. Flip Kenyon, a licensed real estate broker and state-certified residential real estate appraiser, and Heather Kenyon, a Realtor, Accredited Buyer Representative and licensed mortgage broker, co-own Kenyon Real Estate Appraisal & Investment. Offering exclusive real estate buyer representation and appraisal service for many years, their company specializes in the subject matter of the book. To learn more, visit their web site.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 189 pages
• Publisher: Palladian Publishing Company; 1 edition (February 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1892786001
• ISBN-13: 978-1892786005
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,180,350 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Decent, but not great, February 21, 2002

By 

Doug J (Solon, OH United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Smart Money Guide to Buying a Home (Mass Market Paperback)

This book may be slightly better than two stars, but with all of the overly enthusiastic reviews below, some balance is needed.

For starters, this book is very brief - barely over 100 pages not including appendices - and can easily be read in two sittings. Largely an overview with little detail. Thus, you're better off checking it out of a library than buying it for a long term reference.

It also unbalanced/biased - it is obviously written by a realtor. For example, it does not address the issues concerning buying vs. renting and dogamatically assumes that buying is always a great move. While buying a home is usually a great investment, more of the risks of buying need to be brought up.

More annoyingly, the book makes real estate agents (buyer reps) out to be white knights. Untrue! From my experience, there are far more bad ones than good ones and finding a sharp, diligent agent can be a real chore. And the authors claim that it is in your agent's best interest to be patient and find you the best house possible. Also untrue! It is in your agent's best interest to get you to buy ASAP with as little of their time invested as possible. Understanding the players and their motivations is key in the home buying process, and this book just isn't honest enough in that regard.

It may be worth a trip to the library, but not a purchase. Of the four home buying books I read, "The Unoffical Guide to Buying a Home" was the best. More comprehensive and honest.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is a new home buyer's bible., February 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Smart Money Guide to Buying a Home (Mass Market Paperback)

As a young couple buying our first home, we found the process overwhelming until we read this book. Now it is our bible. We particularly found the simple check lists of "things to do" at the end of each chapter invaluable. It clearly explains in layman's terms everything we need to know about buying our home. Anyone making the largest and most important investment in their lives should read this book first.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very informative, to the point, we'll follow the advise, February 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Smart Money Guide to Buying a Home (Mass Market Paperback)

As a realtor investor, I was impressed by the forthright information given in this publication. No double talk, no come on's just simple straight talk. I'd advise any home buyer looking to save money, to buy this book.