Property Law and Real Estate Books

Contains a good overview of the process with many things I
wasn't aware of. After reading this I felt much more comfortable
going to my attorney. I now understood the terms and lingo
involved with a relative's estate. The state by state differences
tables were good to have as well. My only nit is that this is
somewhat out of date. A revised edition would remedy that,
though.

The book is a worthy investment because it provides a
step-by-step explanation of the probate process and the
requisite forms. Employees in the typical public probate
office are not necessarily required to instruct the public
on the intricacies of filling out these forms. Therefore,
a probate kit is an invaluable tool which depicts sample
executed forms in accordance with accepted format and
content standards.

This book had good lists and other information. I did use it for reference but ultimately needed an attorney to navigate through the probate system of another state. For simple estates this might be a worthwhile reference book, but if there is anything complicated and if you are not versed in interpreting lawyerly language it could be difficult.

Reports of guardians stealing from their wards' bank accounts and other wise abusing guardianship powers are surfacing with disturbing regularity. 'This problem is going to get bigger and bigger,' says E. Bentley Lipscomb, AARP's Florida state director and a former state secretary of elder affairs. - GUARDIANS DRAWING INCREASED SCRUTINY, AARP Bulletin. Read also "The Retirement Nightmare" by Dr. Diane Armstrong. Get the real truth about the fraud and abuse of the elderly and not so elderly by a corrupt probate system, judges, guardians, conservators, and estate lawyers.

The Complete Probate Kit lives up to its name, and as the name indicates ("Kit"), presents the information in a format easy for readers to follow. Information is presented in both text and table format, making it very easy to read and understand. The authors have done an excellent job including information important not only during, but also before, the probate process a period often ignored. Another area that is given good coverage in this book is Intestate Succession, an area that is not easy to find information on outside of very technical, professional publications. A great reference for any Personal Representative.

I understand that Attorney Mark Warda has written over 60 books on real estate and the law, and this is just one of those books. He dissects the real estate contract between the buyer and the seller going over each and every clause and explaining its meaning in layman's terms.

Also included in the book are 8 different forms. If you are represented by a competent and knowledgeable real estate attorney, then this book may not be necessary. But if you are buying and selling property without an attorney then this book is a must. The more property you buy and sell the more you need this book. On the other hand if you already have many settlements under your belt this book will not have many new ideas for you.

This book would most benefit the beginner or intermediate real estate investor. I also read another book by the same author on "Land Trusts" and got much more from that book.

Interesting reading for those who are looking to buy or sell their own properties. Very general, but some valid points in contract creation.

This book lets you choose how you want to set up your contract.It explains the pros and cons of each clause.Most lawyers would learn a lot from it but it is simple enough for anyone to understand. I loaned one from the library but decided I need one of my own,that's how good it is.

I am a real estate attorney and recommend this book to anyone who is new to the purchase and sale of real estate. This book is a clearly written explanation of the residential real estate purchase process from contract through closing. It will explain the terms used and the steps that must be taken, so that you will be able to understand what is happening and what has to be done. That being said, I would no more recommend that you rely on a self-help book to buy or sell your home, than I would recommend that you do your own electrical work. There is a lot at stake, and if you screw up, you will get burned. Read this book and hire competent professionals.

I have been interested in investing in real estate for a long time and felt confident with all aspects of it except for the contract. I didn't feel like paying a lawyer to draw up a contract that I didn't really understand and that was 9 pages long was the right answer. After reading this book I have started investing using my own contract and containing clauses and ideas presented in this book. My contracts have been reviewed and approved by real estate attorneys who never had a clue that the contract wasn't prepared by an attorney.

This is one of the best books on the market. I wish I could give the author more than 5 stars!

If you are having trouble with your study, then this book is a great tool to use to prepare you for taking the real estate exam.

I made it through the first 50 pages of this book, after which I returned it because of the mistakes in its text and at times poorly worded review questions. For example, this book lists Washington state as a state that allows tenancy by the entireties, which is a method of property ownership by a married couple that is legal in some states (see pg. 48, 7th ed., copyright 2005). Washington state does NOT allow tenancy by the entireties as evidenced by my Washington state specific text book I received from the pre-licensing course I am taking here in Washington, "Tenancy by the entireties is not recognized in community property states such as Washington, and it has been abolished in a number of other states as well." (Washington Real Estate Fundamentals, pg. 31; 12th Edition, Copyright 2005; Rockwell Publishing). Dearborn Publishing also puts out a book entitled "Washington Real Estate Basics" which also indicates that Washington does not allow tenancy by the entireties, "Because Washington is a community property state, tenancy by the entirety is not recognized." (pg. 62, Copyright 2002; Dearborn Financial Publishing, Inc.). I believe this is a clear example of poor editing. It is one of many examples I could provide from this book. Pre-license books have a lot to say about real estate law and general facts about the business. It is imperative that the books are accurate for obvious reasons. While I'm sure much of this book is accurate, I have lost trust in the accuracy of the book which causes me to question every assertion it makes. In my opinion this book needs a better editor and perhaps more responsible authors, and then it would likely be quite helpful. Until then, you should be prepared to be at least partially misinformed if you rely on it for your pre-license education.

If you need books similar to this, Dearborn Publishing seems to have good books on the subject. For example, "Modern Real Estate Practice" is a great start. They also put out a study guide (lots of practice questions to test your retention) and an audio CD set both of which accompany this title and help one review the information (by the way, this is the only audio CD set I've been able to find on the basics of Real Estate; it is just a review of the material as opposed to indepth lectures, but that's better than nothing). They also have many pre-license books specific to given states. Amazon carries many of their products, but if you want a full list of their Real Estate books/materials, (...)visit their book store, then come back to Amazon to buy'm as chances are you can get them here for cheaper! Also, check the schools in your state that provide pre-licensing education (make sure to find a good school!), as chances are they will provide you with a text book that is accurate. Good luck.

I passed the salesperson test exam (general questions) after studying through this book! For the state law part I recommend studying through more specific books for your state. 100% of the questions on the general part of my exam were covered in this book. Great buy!

Extremely useful for learning the information needed to pass the real estate salesperson exam. Up to date and accurate text. Well written, user-friendly style. Questions and answers at the end of each chapter add to undertsanding and confidence. Outstanding glossary, great practice exams. All 5 stars are well deserved. Highly recommended.

This book deals with one of the most important issues facing modern man: the threat posed to humanism by various so-called progressive movements. This is part of Ferry's ongoing project to expose the illiberal consequences of what is regularly called post-modernity. (See his book on the Sixties as an essay on anti-humanism, and his statement on why he is not a Nietzschean). Some of the practical issues discussed are the crucial distinctions between conservation and radical environmentalism; between anti-cruelty and animal rights. The link between fascism in its most anti-humanist incarnation (Nazism) and "animal rights" should be studied - once animals have the rights of man, man is placed on par with animals. It is no coincidence those carted off to Auschwitz and the eastern camps were sent in cattle cars. These chapters on Nazi animal rights legislation, and the other progressive initiatives of that regime, is fascinating and important especially in light of contemporary European tendencies like the great ape project, support for euthanasia and other progressive ideas - like smoking bans. This is one of the best popular books around to explain the formal and theoretical connection between these seemingly unrelated ideas.

Luc Ferry raises some very important and pressing questions about the implied praxis behind deep ecology. Does the vision of society espoused by deep ecology depend on an authoritarian social structure? Does deep ecology demand a level of political correctness which places its premises beyond question? Ferry is not the first to raise these questions. The Institute for Social Ecology, led by Murray Bookchin, has made the critique of deep ecology its bread and butter. Of course, there are plenty of ideologues within radical ecology, but they do not make up the whole story. Particularly glaring is Ferry's one-sided depiction of eco-feminism. In fact, some eco-feminist work in the U.S. has been particularly sharp at questioning the orthodoxies of both radical ecology and feminism. The questions which occupy Ferry should be asked by every person who is involved in radical ecology, and many of his criticisms are on-target for a specific body of work. But he doesn't bother to see the whole picture, and readers should be careful to read beyond the quotes cited by Ferry and to study deep ecology and ecofeminism on their own terms.

In this book, Luc Ferry uproots the animal rights movement and the ecology movement. He does this because of these movement anti-humanist thrust. But Ferry is not against these animal rights or the enviroment. He just thinks that we should protect the enviroment in the name of man and not the protect it in the name of rocks and .

...Ferry sees deep ecology (or what Americans would call deep ecology) as fundamentally at odds with democracy. Essentially, we may read his critique as claiming that, while democracy incorporates an open-ended dialogue over the good, deep ecology promotes a singular vision of what is good. Deep ecology is biocentric, placing humankind squarely in the midst of nature; democracy, in contrast, is humanistic. Deep ecology promotes a dissolution of the subject; democracy places the subject at its core.

In exploring the tension between deep ecology and democracy (but not, it should be noted, between environmentalism as such), Ferry draws on a few well-illustrated examples, including case studies of Medieval trials of animals, developments in German Romanticism, and Nazi ideology. The chapters on Nazism are especially interesting - although it is made clear that deep ecology is not a form of fascism; only that there are certain paralles in how each addresses the question of democracy and modernity.

The book is well-written and well-argued. In contrast to the stereotypical French philosopher (at least as many Americans have been exposed to French philosophy), Ferry's writing is elegant and clear, and he avoids obfuscation. I have used portions of this book in introductory classes, and plan to assign it in an upcoming undergraduate seminar.

This book is an astute critique of some of the naive and even undemocratic tendencies in Deep Ecology. But it is unfair to associate Deep Ecology with fascism without pointing out that fascism has other political heirs far more powerful than any ecologist.
The book leaves you feeling the author prefers needling theories to grappling with the ecological crisis in its true depth. This can't be done from the calculative, rationalist basis he finds comfortable. If Deep Ecology needs a new basis, Ferry gives few clues what that might be and settles instead for enlightened smugness.

THIS BOOK IS VERY WELL WRITTEN AND EASY TO READ. IT IS MORE FOR THE EXPERIENCED INVESTOR AS IT IS WRITTEN FOR THOSE THAT ALREADY OWN PROPERTIES. IT HAD SOME GOOD INFORMATION ON PROPERTY TAX PROTESTS. ALSO ON LANDLORDS RESPONSIBILITIES. EXPLAINS ON WHAT TO DO WHEN THE TENANTS MOVE OUT. THERE WAS MORE ON LEASES(copies in book) THAN I CARED TO REVIEW, BUT IT ALSO HAD CHECKLISTS ON OTHER TOPICS THAT I BELEAVE ARE IMPORTANT TO THE LANDLORD. I HAVE BEEN AN INVESTOR FOR MANY YEARS AND THIS BOOK WAS WRITTEN BY INVESTORS THAT HAD EXPERIENCE IN THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT.IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A BOOK THAT HAS CREATIVE FINANCING ON HOW TO AQUIRE THE PROPERTIES THIS IS NOT THE BOOK THAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR.

The author gave a good covering of landlording topics. Most of it was common sense information, but there were a couple of little treasures thrown in. The advice on handling troublesome tenants was interesting, but I have never needed it (so far!). For the beginning landlord, this will provide a wealth of information on topics you may not have considered. For the experienced landlord, there might be a few nuggets of gold, but don't expect a bonanza.

THIS BOOK GIVES THE READER AN A-Z SYNOPSIS OF EVERY ASPECT A PROSPECTIVE AND CURRENT LANDLORD NEEDS TO KNOW,AFTER READING THIS BOOK,YOU WILL BE EQUIPPED TO HANDLE ANY POSSIBLE SCENARIO A LANLORD MIGHT FACE

This book taught me how to handle difficult tenants and prepare myself when new tenants move in. I knew what to ask and forms to use. I would recommend this book for experienced landlords as well as landlords who are just starting out.

This book is the only reason I passed Property first year. I had a fantastic professor, but I just didn't "get" anything about property at all until about two days before the exam. I have CrunchTime for every core subject, and am using them to help me study for the bar this summer as well.

This book is a property life-saver!! Even though it's meant for right before the exam, I would get it and read/skim it as you go, because it makes some of the more difficult concepts seem very clear!

Property can be extremely dull and difficult to memorize for your law school exams...this book provides a great outline of the concepts and good example problems to practice on. love it that so many people sell their used copies so cheap...can get great deals in law school supplements through amazon!

This was a very helpful supplement to the course material for the semester. It explains complex property theories in easy to manage summaries.

This book has some good information for anyone considering purchasing a home in France. It's aimed more towards a U.K. citizen, versus a U.S. citizen, but I still found it helpful. Some of the info. applies only to purchases of 'flats' (apartments) and not houses, but he doesn't tell you that. I found out after asking for some of the documentation he mentions. I would recommend the book to anyone considering the purchase of a French property -- get it early so you do it right!

We JUST (September '99) bought an apartment in Paris, using this book as a daily reference. It helped us immensely, giving us confidence in many procedures from looking for a place initially to the closing, including geat information on insurance and utilities. Definitely a great source!

...if you're thinking about buying property in France. Hampshire is totally on target. I read his book before going through the buying process, and couldn't believe how perfectly his advice dovetailed with my actual experience.

This book deals with the economic sense of property rights, in other words, "who owns what?". Property rights are not defined uniformly across cultures since societies have discretion as to how to define those rights. In fact, they are very often not perfectly delineated. People can delineate those rights under the shadow of the law or ask a court to settle their case. The common view that commodities are homogenous entities with only one attribute gives rise to the conclusion that the right is either owned by someone or not owned. In real life, assets incorporate several attributes, whose ownership is not always perfectly delineated. Under certain circumstances it is too costly to measure and protect all assets' attributes. When circumstances change, conflicts can arise. Neoclassical literature instead assumes simplistically that transaction costs are zero and that all property rights are perfectly well delineated. Once you can take into consideration intermediate cases (common and private goods, environment, contractual rights etc) as Barzel does in this book, you can have a more complete model to price goods, which come logically from well-defined first principles. A must read for public economists and (why not?) lawyers.

This book is written from the neoclassical perspective and takes a sensible and thoughtful approach to property rights. This book provides the reader insight into how property rights define how society organizes itself. Building on Public Choice Theory, Barzel explores how property rights are delineated in many situations, addressing head on the Tragedy of the Commons.

For any study of law and economics this is a must read. But the reader must be cautioned that this is not an Economics 101 book. A solid grounding in the writings of Buchanan, Tullock, Arrow, Ostrum, Coase, and Olson are what is required to make this a comprehensible read.

This book, unlike many other books on new institutional economics, constructed some scientific theories on property right economics. It should be a suitable basis of learning scientific new insitutional economics. Once you have read this book, you will know the correct meaning of economics of property rights.

Until you read this book, you will be taken advantage of from landlords who know you haven't read the book. I have rented for years and thought if I am a good tenant and pay my rent everything will be wonderful...UNTIL that day!!! By reading this book, I learned there were many times as a renter my rights were violated. I am an excellent tenant with more knowledge. By knowing my rights I have been able to keep situations from getting to the UGLY stage between the tenant and landlord.

Very informative book. Easy to browse Table of Contents and find what you're looking for. Goes along with "Renter's Rights: The Basics"

Anyone paying rent, and any public library catering to renters, needs Attorney Janet Portman and Marcia Stewart's 5th updated edition of EVERY TENANT'S LEGAL GUIDE: it is the only book to provide legal details for handling not just landlords, but roommates and other tenants. From getting drug dealers out of the building to handling asbestos, getting a landlord to make repairs, and putting a roommate situation on a solid legal foundation, EVERY TENANT'S LEGAL GUIDE is an essential reference which should be part of any general public lending library collection.

I sold my house in San Francisco without a broker (my first house sale). The buyer actually drew up the sales contract but this book helped me understand who should pay for what fees.

The only thing that this book lacked that could have gotten me in trouble was that it failed to mention a San Francisco-specific report called the 3R report (the City issues it to list all permits that it has issued for the property). Fortunately I had a friend who was a realtor who checked to make sure I had all the forms.

I had a bought and borrowed a few for-sale-by owner books in order to help me sell my spec houses, but was always very disappointed with how and general and vague they were. This book, however, told me all the info I needed in a very easy-to- follow, step-by-step format. I really feel like I totally understand the process now, thanks to this book. If you follow all the advice and suggestions, you will definitely save thousands on realtor fees.

I bought and read this book. I was then able to sell my house in San Francisco without using a listing agent, saving $15,250.
Needless to say, this is a book that MORE than pays for itself.

In fact, this is an important book to read even if you decide to use a full service real estate agent and not try to sell it yourself. When dealing with real estate transactions, honesty appears to fall by the wayside. This book will educate you for the pitfalls you will be facing.