Clark Smart Real Estate: The Ultimate Guide to Buying and Selling Real Estate - Softcover

Howard, Clark; Meltzer, Mark

Softcover

ISBN 10: 140130785X ISBN 13: 9781401307851

Publisher: Hyperion, 2007

Synopsis

One of America's leading consumer advocates and popular talk show hosts offers his tips and tricks to successfully buying and selling real estate -- in any market

Real estate -- whether in a boom or a bust economy -- is still a good investment, but only if you make smart and patient choices. There is a lot of confusing information out there, and many people find it increasingly difficult to navigate the ever-changing world of real estate without losing their shirts, or their minds. In Clark Smart Real Estate, talk show host and bestselling author Clark Howard presents the best of his experience as a consumer advocate. In his simple and clear style, he shows readers how they can build wealth slowly over time through real estate, and how they can capitalize on -- and protect themselves from -- the real estate market's many fluctuations over the long term.

Following his own "save more, spend less, and avoid ripoffs," philosophy, Howard encourages people to get "Clark Smart" and lays out practical and information-packed answers to common questions anyone interested in real estate might have about buying, selling, or financing. When should you buy your first home? Is it better to purchase a preexisting house or one newly built? What are some hidden closing costs, and how can you avoid them? Should you sell your home yourself? How does one shop for a mortgage? What are the costs of refinancing?

Sound advice in a handy format -- this is what Clark Howard's readers have been waiting for, and it's just in time to help the multitudes flummoxed by today's conflicting real estate market.

About this title

About the Author:

Clark Howard is the host of The Clark Howard Show, a radio talk show syndicated in more than ninety cities around the country. He is also a featured commentator on WSB-TV in Atlanta and a columnist with theAtlanta Journal-Constitution. Mark Meltzer is an editor at theAtlanta Business Chronicle. Both authors reside in Atlanta.

From Booklist:

This is not a get-rich-quick-on-real-estate scheme and plan. In fact, media host and author (Get Clark Smart, 2002; Clark Smart Big Book of Bargains , 2003; and other titles) Howard and coauthor Meltzer specifically emphasize, again and again, that real estate investments demand a long-term perspective--and patience. Each of the five sections--buying, selling, investing, financing, and taxes and insurance--begins with a list of questions to ask, then concludes by summarizing that section's key points. House and home facts and processes are presented without hype, with Howard's distinctive point of view. These ideas include the following: begin preparation by checking your credit score and fixing it if need be, anyone buying real estate should look at a minimum of 100 properties, selling a house yourself is not recommended, wait to buy real estate as an investment until there are lulls in the market, expect to rent foreign houses for at least two years before buying, and time-shares are a waste. Honest and direct advice. Barbara Jacobs
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About this edition

• Publisher: Hyperion
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 140130785X
• ISBN 13: 9781401307851
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 160