Home Buying in 30 Minutes – A Book Review

My highest priority is to educate my clients. I do this by conducting thorough and thoughtful home inspections using state-of-the-art technology, staying educated on the latest changes in home construction, and by sharing my knowledge through articles on relevant and need-to-know topics.  I’ve even written a few myself.

Because I want my people to be educated and protected from others who may not have their best interests in mind, I’m always on the lookout for things that can help clients navigate the sometimes dishonest, often overwhelming, world of home buying.

So, when my friend Jim Morrison’s (please, save your joke about The Doors) book, Home Buying in 30 Minutes was published, I instantly gave it a read. I wanted to know if this could be a useful tool for not just my clients, but also my family and friends.  It can, and it is.

BUILD YOUR TEAM, GET YOUR MORTGAGE, AND CLOSE THE DEAL.

In the book, Jim gives a great overview of the home-buying process from start to finish. He discusses determining how much you can afford to spend on a mortgage, simply and succinctly explains interest rates, and walks you through how to tour a home with a critical eye but without emotion.  That last one is key.  Staying as unemotional as you can will make all the difference when it comes time to negotiate.  

Jim also gives practical and relevant examples of questions to ask and things to think about when vetting the professionals you need on your team during the home buying process. He issues cautions and gives important reminders to make sure that the people you hire are on your side–not the side of their own paycheck.

Because Jim was a licensed home inspector for over 25 years, he has a vast well of understanding–not only of homes, real estate professionals, and construction but of people as well. Using his decades of experience, his easy-to-understand writing style, firsthand knowledge of educating new and veteran homebuyers in the field and in print, Jim has developed a resource that will be useful to many.

If you are about to embark on a real estate journey, I highly encourage you to grab this book. You can read it in an evening, but you’ll reap the benefits for years. Because, as Jim says, “Your goal should be to become a super-informed consumer. The more you know about the community you’re about to invest in, the better.”