Helpful hints plus an abundance of punch lines

WRITTEN by the actor, stand-up comic and host of HGTV’s hit television show “House Hunters,” “Suzanne Whang’s Guide to Happy Home Buying” walks would-be buyers through the process with a smile.

Using an upbeat first-person style, Whang guides buyers with chapters on “Getting Started,” “Home Maintenance,” and “Finding Your Nirvana Neighborhood.” Along the way, Whang underscores her ideas with her Top 10 comedic lists.

For example: Why is home inspection vital? “So that you don’t spend your days fantasizing about revenge.”

Several chapters tackle the emotionalism of buying, including “20 Questions to Answer Before Happy House Hunting.”

Here’s one: “Can home buyers fall in love with someone else’s dream home and make it their own?” Whang says to judge an area by “imagining yourself living in the neighborhood.”

Getting down to the nuts and bolts of buying, handy suggestions include evaluating plumbing and electrical wiring.

Most chapters feature easy-to-read lists, such as “Topics Couples Should Discuss Before the House Hunt.” Whang offers serious questions for couples to consider. Carefully review finances and agree on locations.

Humorously, Whang spices up the subject with her “Top 10 Signs Your Better Half Is Not Happy With the House.”

“A spouse who prefers to work late seven days a week” and is “constantly rearranging the furniture” are among the signs.

In the chapter “Other Options,” Whang presents ideas such as “entering the market via secondary home purchases rather than through the purchase of principal property.” While this might put investors on the road to success, her examples were vague and confusing.

Whang suggests using Zen and feng-shui principles to shed enlightenment on the buying and owning process. “Creating the proper home environment has always been a fusion of practicality and fantasy,” Whang writes, recommending “a clear pathway to the door” and “hanging wind chimes to regulate energy” as ideas to promote a harmonious living space.

Whang’s creative side is showcased with “Decorating Ideas Under $50 for Your First Year.” Suggestions for jazzing up a room include using paint, fabric and even chicken wire for creative effect. Helpful websites are included, offering, for example, sources for home plan design and tips on buying a house and renting a portion to roommates.

Although Whang’s approach is entertaining and informative, switching from sensible aspects of home buying to the comedic is sometimes disjointed, making reading this somewhat helpful book a challenge at times.