Oct. 25, 2006 - June Fletcher's "House Poor"

A month or so ago I was plodding along doing my REALTOR® type grunt work I received a surprising phone call from Felicia Sullivan of Collins Publishing (that's a division of HarperCollinsPublishers). She wanted to know if I would read, and then blog about a real estate related book if she sent me one. "Sure" says I, trying to sound as if that's what I do all of the time. I'm not sure, but I think she knew better. I know that you, my faithful readers, know better.

The fact that she even contacted me bolsters a few of my beliefs. One is that I am as almost famous as I keep saying I am, a legend in my own mind. Another is that blogging really works when it comes to attracting attention. Another is that once you get rolling, people want to give you free stuff so you will talk about them in your blog. What's next, paid advertising? I only wish Felicia had wanted to buy or sell a house that day because THAT is what I do. However, I did agree to try my hand at book reviewing, so here goes.

The book is House Poor Pumped-Up Prices, Rising Rates, And Mortgages On Steroids, by June Fletcher. Here is what the dust cover has to say about June: "June Fletcher has been writing about real estate and home-related matters for 20 years. For the past 10 years, she's been "Home Front" feature reporter for the Wall Street Journal; prior to that, she was editor of Homes Today, a monthly newspaper on real estate based in Washington, D.C., and senior editor of Builder magazine, a trade publication. She has won writing awards from the American Society of Business Publications Editors, the New York Business Press Editors, and the National Association of Real Estate Editors. She holds a bachelor of arts degree from Princeton University, and a master of arts from Oxford University, both in English. June resides with her family in Vienna, Virginia." On the off chance that June herself should read this, I hope she doesn't use all of that education against me.

The book is an easy enough read, so I suggest everyone should read it. REALTORS® should read it because it is full of tidbits you should already know, but probably forgot. Not only that, but if you are like me and go on to check out the sources she cites, you'll learn tons of stuff  about valuable resources you didn't even know about. I have purchased two other books she cited in House Poor. Buyers and seller should read it because it's books like this your smart REALTORS®, Mortgage Brokers and Real Estate Attorneys are reading. All "Industry Insiders" need to stay up to speed on the industry. Smart ones do and give you good, reliable information. The rest feed you horse crap. As a consumer of real estate services, the knowledge contained in this book will help you know the difference. That way you won't be led down the road to ruin by some half cocked agent and his cronies.

I don't want to give it all away, I want you to read this book. Let's make it easy on you: BUY THIS BOOK.

Now if anybody else wants to send me some free stuff, cool. I will be glad to check it out.

As always, if you have found yourself receiving my blog postings via e-mail, it is because I have either blogged about you personally, blogged about something I know is of interest to you, or I consider you to be a person of deep thinking and intellect and I would love to have you occasionally commenting on my blog. If you would like to be removed from the list simply send me an e-mail saying so.