Smart Consumer's Guide to Home Buying

by Peter A. Schkeeper, Jack C. Harris, Jack P. Friedman

Buying a home is, in the authors' words, both a romantic journey and a business venture. For most families, it's the largest single investment they will ever make. The purpose of this book is to... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0764135716
• ISBN13: 9780764135712
• Release Date: March 2008
• Publisher: Barrons Educational Series
• Length: 520 Pages
• Weight: 1.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.0" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Well researched and informative

Bought this book while getting ready for the home purchase. This is a detailed, well researched book which is easy to read. Definitely recommended for someone planning to buy a house/condo etc.

A Must Read for Home Buyers

As first time homebuyers looking to navigate the complicated waters of home buying, my husband and I found this book invaluable. It is written in a very clear and concise manner, with lots of anecdotal evidence. I strongly recommend this book to first time and repeat home buyers alike.

Absolutely helpful and excellent

The information and advice in this book was so good. I am in the process of buying a retirement home in the south, and so are a few of my friends-- so I purchased 4 of the books. -- and gave 3 of them to my friends-- they all loved it-- one of them has aleady purchased a home in Fla., and the rest of us are still looking. The advice is excellent. --Tom Waage

Excellent resource for homebuyers

I wish I had found this book 13 years ago! I ended up buying a seriously defective house from a very corrupt and unresponsive builder, and I have spent 9 years and most of my life savings battling him in court. I could have been spared all of this aggravation if I had known then what is explained in this book. If you are thinking about buying new construction, PLEASE read this book first and spare yourself a major headache.

A fantastic resource

I bought my first home in 1963. I have bought and sold homes four times since, so I have gone through the exercise five times. I thought I had a pretty good comprehension of the process, but reading this book tells me that I was probably aware of less than 50% of important details that are not apparent to the average consumer. This book is crammed with ideas, scenarios, guidance, and caveats, some of them expressed in extreme detail. The financial guidance and calculation worksheets alone are worth the price of the book. This book should be in the hands of every homebuyer, including first timers and experienced ones such as I. My next move will likely be to a downsized residence. I will definitely use some of the planning techniques to allow my wife and me to prioritize our true needs.