Tips & Traps When Buying A Condo, Co-op, or Townhouse [Paperback]

Robert Irwin (Author)

Book Description

Series: Tips and Traps | Publication Date: August 31, 1999

One third of all homes sold today are condos, co-ops, or townhouses. America's #1 real estate expert shows what to watch for when buying one of them. Home ownership is still the American dream, but not everyone follows tradition by buying a detached one-family house. Condos, co-ops, and townhouses are increasingly popular alternatives nationwide. These "shared ownership" options have unique pluses and minuses, as Bob Irwin reveals in Tips & Traps When Buying a Condo, Co-op, or Townhouse.

Like other books in his best-selling "Tips & Traps" series, it's packed with targeted, reader-friendly advice. If you're a prospective buyer, Bob Irwin will show you how to:

• Decide if shared ownership is right for you
• Read between the lines of bylaws
• Deal with homeowners associations
• Check out the seven warning signs of big trouble
• Handle disclosures and inspections
• And much more

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Buying a condo, townhouse, or co-op is like marrying into a family," writes Irwin. (Library Journal )

From the Back Cover

Hunting for your dream co-op, condo, or townhouse? Don't even think of buying one until you check with one of America's leading real estate experts!

Buying a condo, townhouse, or co-op is like marrying into a family, writes Robert Irwin in Tips & Traps When Buying a Condo, Co-op, or Townhouse. It can be a dream come true of shared amenities you could not afford on your own­­like pools, golf courses, lakes, and spas. Or you could find that you've married into a dysfunctional "family" and you're living in a nightmare of real estate politics, hidden fees, and draconian approval processes.

Now best-selling real estate writer Robert Irwin lays out the many things you need to know when buying a condo, townhouse, or co-op, much of which goes beyond buying a single-family home. Make your condo, townhouse, or co-op dreams come true with practical advice that will save you time and money:

• Learn the 7 "red flag" questions
• Evaluate the property's future value
• Understand homeowners' rules
• Check out hidden shared legal hazards
• Rate insurance coverage and cash reserves
• Uncover potential financial liabilities
• Discover what dues histories mean
• Determine who's responsible for maintenance
• Conduct a thorough inspection and investigate disclosures

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (August 31, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071348484
• ISBN-13: 978-0071348485
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,772,084 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Quick, straight forward helpful advice, October 21, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Tips & Traps When Buying A Condo, Co-op, or Townhouse (Paperback)

If you are even thinking of even buying a condo, townhouse or condo, this book is a definite buy. It's definitely worth the price to educate yourself about some things to look out for when looking to buy. It is in a question/answer/tip/trap quick and to the point format. I bought the book because it was recommended as one of the top ten real estate books to buy in the real estate section in the Washington Post for 2000. Highly recommend.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good primer., January 16, 2002

By 

John Peck (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tips & Traps When Buying A Condo, Co-op, or Townhouse (Paperback)

As a prospective first-time property purchaser, I found this book to contain some good information on the particulars of condos and townhouses. I did not read the section on Co-ops however. Parts of the book seemed to contain redundant information, not necessarily for emphasis. Perhaps the chapters were intended to be somewhat self-contained. "Buying a home for Dummies" has been my first resource. I'd recommend reading something like it first in order to fully appreciate the differences w/condos and townhouses described in this book.

31 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good homeowner association information, March 10, 2000

By 

J.P. Noble (Denver, CO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tips & Traps When Buying A Condo, Co-op, or Townhouse (Paperback)

As a board member of a homeowner asociation I found this book very useful in explaining the rights of homeowners and the function of the board. Good advice about dealing with the board as a homeowner, and some examples of dealing with homeowners as a member of the board. Very readable--a good, quick guide that will help me explain the board's actions to homeowners.