No opinions, no advice, just the facts
“THE Complete Real Estate Encyclopedia” is just that. Not a page turner, not a snappy “how-to” manual; there’s not even a single clever illustration to underscore a point.
It’s an alphabetized list of about 3,500 terms and topics connected to real estate transactions. And for that, I would like to extend the authors my undying thanks. The book will not only have a place of honor on my office bookshelf, it’s also so useful that it will likely need to be locked up at night. To neighbors who want to borrow it, I say: Paws off. Go buy your own copy.
As the cover blurb promises, it includes definitions “From AAA Tenant to Zoning Variance and Everything in Between.”
Will buyers and sellers benefit from having a copy handy? Yes -- at least those who prefer actually to understand those papers they’re asked to sign when they make an offer, close escrow or apply for a loan.
There are no opinions rendered here, no one sharing secrets, tips or advice; no one telling you how to reduce your selling time, stage your house or get rich quick.
There is an appendix of “125 Terms All Buyers and Sellers Should Know” and another of “105 Words for Landlords, Tenants and their Agents.” There’s even an appendix for common land measurements, in case you forget that there are 43,560 square feet in an acre.
And while this encyclopedia is delightfully jargon-free, it does include an appendix of “80 Slang Expressions Used by Real Estate Insiders.” My favorite was “starter castle: a pretentious home built with really cheap components and methods.” Who says realty agents don’t have a sense of humor?
The book provides an online component with a collection of tools, including legal forms, calculators and spreadsheets.
My definition of this book: a keeper.
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