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The average college grad "earns" about $11,000 of student loan debt on the way to a diploma.Those who go on for an advanced degree can wind up $100,000 in the hole! This book details what you'll need to know to stay afloat in the sea of student loans. It explains your repayment and consolidation options, and offers strategies for getting and staying out of default.

This book has some great ideas and techniques on how to negotiate real estate and make the deals go smoothly and profitably for you. Allows you know how and when to be aggressive and when other stances would be more effective. A great book for anyone interested in real estate or planning to buy or sell a home.

I purchased this book over 8 years ago and use it for reference on a continuous basis. The section I use the most is "monthly payment needed to repay a loan". It has tables ranging from 1 year to 40 year loans and interst rates from 5% to 25%. It also gives easy to understand info on obtaining student loans, home mortgage guidelines, second mortage financing, mortgage refinancings, car leasing, consumer credit, point discount tables and load progression charts.

A fast paced story that encompasses the actual behind the scenes workings of a banking organization which the author uses as a background. The author, Al Giannini, is obviously a many faceted individual who appears to be knowledgeable in a multitude of subjects which he succeeds in blending into the novel. He knows his way around boardrooms, golf links, airplanes, yachts and DEFINITELY BEDROOMS!

A very readable tale that holds ones interest throughout the entire book. Highly recommended for a pleasant reading experience!

The most basic of human frailties are embodied in a single person, the title character, Luco Parisi. Giannini explores Luco in depth -- his greed, his craving for vengeance, his uncontrollable lust, the ease with which he can betray -- and the extent to which others are affected by the consequences of his amorality. So blinded and preoccupied is Luco with his self-serving pursuits, he is unaware until it is too late that he has incurred the wrath of two very diverse individuals. One, a gangland boss, wants the return of his ill-gotten money and will stop at nothing to get it. The other, Vince Bonetta, is the antithesis of Luco. Vince's sense of values and morality clash with Luco's at every level. Vince is driven not by money, but by a sense of honor and loyalty to old friends that can be satisfied only by exacting just and total retribution from Luco.

Giannini's telling of this story is interwoven with human emotion -- pathos, love, fury, greed, humor -- and told through characters who come vividly alive with dialogue that is compelling and memorable.

It's hard to believe that The Aberration is his first novel. I look forward eagerly to the release of his next work, The Third Wire.

I suspect that my conclusions regarding this book have to do with dreams and realisms of immigrant forefathers versus the greed and lewedness of a wayward son. The sinister plot unravels itself almost immediately corrupting Mickey and endangering the financial success of Phil not to mention an entire banking institution. How can a son born of a father so loving go so wrong?

Mr. Giannini writes in a skillful dynamic fashion using colorful, descriptive phraseology. He involves places, times, and sequences necessary for continuity and clarity.

All too often one finds a way to continue the story of the pages one has read coming to the conclusion of one's choice. I have done that with this book....coming to my own conclusion regarding the presence of Luco. I look forward, therefore, to a sequel to The Aberration and for Luco to discern his very self.

This book really will not help you if you already have student loan debt. If you do, the advice is simple - hunker down and pay it off. If you have no student loan debt, read this book and reconsider your desire to go into debt for your education. You can get a good education on the "pay as you go" method if you do it right. Take it from someone who made all the wrong choices - don't go into debt for your education!! I don't recommend this book if you already have sutdent loan debt - focus on paying it off. Save the money you'd spend on this book and put it toward your loan payoff.

I have found myself graduated and placed in a law career that I never wanted, thanks to my family's pushing a smart but "too nice" young man into a potentially "lucrative" but intensely stressful and blood-spilling career as a lawyer. Of course the family never paid anything because they are simple lower middle class people who had a dream that their bright young son would become a smashing success. So now I have a $100,000 debt and stuck in a career that I dread (I wanted to be a damn scientist, not a LAWYER). This book is pretty good on telling you exactly how the government can wreck your life with its easy to get student loans, but it doesn't have any hands down cure. It is dated already in that a year after it was published congress took away the 7 year waiting period for a bankruptcy discharge. Now you may NEVER have your educational loans discharged, so they will chase you and harass you and try to reposess your things even when you are old and grey, all for your mistaken career choices made as a youth. For those who are sucked into the student loan system without rich parents to bail them out or pay the bills, there is not much anybody can do for you. This book SHOULD BE READ BY ANYONE WHO DOES NOT HAVE ASSETS and is thinking about taking loans to go to school. READ IT because nobody else is gonna tell you how absolutely crushing this educational debt can be to your dreams. Then you will see that NOBODY in their right mind should get into serious nondischargeable debt for what is at best an uncertain hope that you will maybe be able to get a job and pay it back through continuous work through what should be the prime years of your life. READ THIS BOOK BEFORE YOU SIGN THE PROMISSORY NOTE!!!!!!!!!!!

This book is just fine. I guess the bottom line is you need to make the money to pay the damn things off however. I'd like to see something in a more loompanics sort vein.

This is the first "for dummies" book I've ever bought. It's also going to be the last. They're not kidding with the title. Instead of stating their point simply and clearly, the authors patronize the readers with silly stories. For example, instead of saying something like "do not buy a house that's too far from your work," the authors spend a paragraph telling a story of some poor dummy who did buy a house too far from his work and ended up hating everything. Oh, and BTW, if you need a book to tell you that you shouldn't buy a house that's far from your work, then this book is for you. The information presented is oversimplified, incomplete, and sometimes just incorrect. Moreover, this book will not help you at all if you're dealing with an unusual market, such as SF Bay Area, NYC, LA, etc.

I'm not in the real estate business, nor do I have any vested interest in anybody buying or not buying this book.

The Best Available For Lookers/buyers/Sellers - Everyone

The brilliance of HB For Dummies is taking important factual information, condensing (but not oversimplifying) it, organizing it, and labeling it with headers and bullets making the info. easy to find. It seems every angle and potential situation is noted here for home buyers, sellers, or anyone contemplating this major undertaking. The chapters are organized perfectly for you to go immediately where you want to go in this book.

Think of all of the millions of people who purchased their first home recently (2002-3), motivated by the lowest interest rates in decades. Many of them have likely paid higher and/or unnecessary fees, or had the process slowed because they weren't willing to read 30 minutes a week to get the basics down.

The duties of all of the 7 most common players in a home purchase and sale are described. The RE Agent, Broker, Lender, Property Inspector, Escrow officer, Financial and Tax Advisors, and Lawyer (if latter need be) are included. What should be expected of them, negotiating fees, which party pays them, and what actions are considered the norm and reasonable are detailed. And of course: all of the potential red flags, and how to spot them are enumerated also. What 11 questions should you ask the Real Estate Agents you interview to represent you? Find out here.

Most folks don't keep track of the details of the current home
values more than the generalities of it being a cold, sluggish, warm or hot market. There are instructions in this book on specifically how you can get comparable pricing of the values of what you are looking for in a home in the community you live in.

For some of the nuts and bolts, in the financing chapter for example, there is a list of 22 items you need to bring to a mortgage lender: original copies of the 8821 Form, inspection report, the closing cost worksheet, and various sections of the U.R.L.A. will give you confidence of having at least the basic background knowledge so you can know what to expect when you begin the process. How much will Homeowners insurance cost you? It's here. Doing your homework before-hand is much better than learning as you go along, which can surprise, sadden, cost more, and at times intimidate the first (or 2nd time) buyer.

In the back of the book there are appendixes that contain more original documents, such as the Purchase Contract. There is a comprehensive glossary of terms, and an index.

Another helpful book is "The 106 Most Common Mistakes Home Buyers Make (And How To Avoid Them)" by Eldred. But HB For Dummies has much, much, more. HB For Dummies provides the most bang for buck.

My wife and I purchased this book to help us in our hunt for our first home. We were total novices about the entire home buying process since we had always been apartment dwellers. I read through the book several times over the course of a month. The book armed me with good questions to ask my realtor and the seller's agent as well. It was particularly invaluable when addressing mortgage loans and funding alternatives.

48 hours from now my wife and I will close on our first home. This book gave us confidence in our decision making by helping us evaluate a wide variety of criteria we would not have otherwise thought of. The peace of mind this book gave is worth many times more than we spent for it.

If you are buying a home as a novice, you simply MUST purchase this book. Even if you are a veteran home buyer, I really believe this book will have value for you as well.

Great Book!

My favorite, is the fact that the banks invented ATM and debit
cards so that you would accidently overdraw your account. The banks accutually love it when you do that. They get to charge
you for this little error.
Actual cost of overdraft of a check:

Computer Cost: 0.25
Employee's Processing cost: 0.50
Mailing cost of OD notice: 0.32 (not current rate)

Total 1.07

Now is that what they charge you no, they make a tidy profit
about $24.00 if the charge was $25.

He tells you ways to find the best mortgage, how to find an alternative checking account, and better ways to save that just letting the bank hold it for you.

He states how to negotiate with the bank IF you choose to get a loan there. He tells you how points on a loan are like addiditional dealer profit that car dealers charge you for doing nothing!

He also says how most banks' safety deposits can be jimmed with a screw driver and other reasons not to use them.

He gives a few phone numbers on where to purchase mail order checks at half of what the bank charges.

He also gives ways to find out if your bank is safe. But what about the FDIC. He gives reasons why that little FDIC sign at the bank should not be helping you to sleep at night.

IT is a must read for anyone that uses a bank!

There is so much more in the book, this is just the tip of the
iceberg!

This has to be the best book ever written on the subject of consumer banking. It deserves more than five stars. It was given to me as a present from my father with a note that read, "This should be read by every bank customer in America and taught in every school." With that grandiose prelude I was expecting to be disappointed - I wasn't. No matter what the service, it's covered in detail. And most importantly, it's not just what I call a "gripe book." In addition to explaining how we're being ripped off, the author shows us how to fight back. Since I read it I now receive virtually all my banking needs for free instead of being nickel and dimed to death. Last month I purchased a new car. Following the advice in the book I saved over $1,000 on the bank finance and product charges that were first offered to me. I realize now, after reading this book, that banks depend on us (the consumer) not knowing how they play the game - and because we don't understand, and are often intimidated, we are grossly overcharged for services. That's not going to happen to anyone who reads this book. One last thought - this is the first financial book I've ever read that I enjoyed and could completely and totally understand and put into immediate use. As I said, this book deserves more than five stars.

I understand that financial analysts or banking professionals may disagree, but the information in this book is priceless to someone who knows little about how banks *really* operate and view the banking customer. After reading this book, I never want to use the "services" of a bank again.

True, i'm often highly suspicious of any institution with ties to the government, but with this book I was finally vindicated of my concerns.

It is safe to say that, to the layperson - someone who isn't biased(works for a bank) - they'll never see the banking system the same again after reading this book. It is a MUST HAVE if you have ever wondered why YOU have to pay (in some cases) THEM for a checking account. After reading this book, my thoughts changed from "$10 is cheap" to "they should be paying ME to let them hold my paychecks." It is also a must is you have ever wondered why you feel submissive to THEM, in dealings with your bank.

I had many "run-ins" with a bank last year, and although it didn't save me the pain from dealing with them (too late, unfortunately), it was an awakening and explanation to their banking practices.

I'll never open a checking or savings account again. It paid for itself in the first few pages.

This book is liberating!!!

Leo - out of the system now.

I can't say enough good things about this book. What I like best about it is that its useful no matter how much time you have left until a scholarship application is due. As a high school senior, I have some applications due in a couple weeks, some due in a couple months, and others I'll apply for when I'm in college. The author shows you how to package you application in a short amount of time for those coming deadlines, expand upon what you've done for those medium-term deadlines, and employ "content strategies" to position yourself for those long-term applications. This book is a really, really good starting point for any student serious about winning scholarships.

This book is literally the best resourse for scholarships. Period. I'm a high school freshman, and I got this book to start a quest for keeping my financial stabibility. I've read pretty much the whole thing in no time and I'm ready to apply the strategies and tactics to my scholarship quest.

Now, I really can't tell you if this book WILL suceed in paying for most of my college tuition but, frankly, I realize it is really up to me. If I am ready to put in the time, if YOU are ready to put in the time, I am sure either you OR I could win, with or without the book. But, this book will surely make it a lot easier. It has strategies of how to win as well as a fair selection of scholarships to begin applying to. Enough to keep you busy for a very, very long time. Even if these aren't enough, it offers suggestion of how you can find more scholarships you're eligible for. Supposedly, the author is also putting together a companion book with many more scholarships, though it's not out yet. All and all, I highly recommend you get this book. It won't win the scholarships for you, but, with a little preserverence, it will certainly assist you win the contests yourself!

When I saw the title of this book, I began salivating uncontrollably. Imagine, having someone else pay to send your kids to college. That may have been an overreaction. Surely anyone else that has college-bound kids should sympathize.

The book is well organized and written on a level that will not challenge a high school student. However, there are tips for a wider audience including the very young, older returning students, graduate students, and students that fit into special groups.

Clearly, the competition for scholarships can be intense, but with a logical game plan engaged in consistently, an applicant's effectiveness can be increased. The one consistent theme in the book is that a steady approach will lead to success.

I will take issue with a combination of techniques mentioned in the book. Kaplan suggests that students get their recommendations in electronic format so that they can print them out as needed. He also suggests that you solicit "small" changes to recommendation letters to make them "great" letters. I feel this may present many an ethical challenge to some applicants. To be clear, he does not suggest manufacturing recommendation letters.

He also provides access to his companion web site to add extra punch to the process.

In the final analysis, it is hard to argue with his success, and Kaplan was very successful on his own behalf. He interviewed many of the people involved as applicant and administrators and their tips appear in the book.

I got into real estate investing primarily due to Mr. Shemin's first two books, "Secrets of a Millionaire Landlord" and "secrets of a Millionaire Real Estate Investor." Both of these books were excellent, and I wouldn't sell my copies for the world.

However, this is simply a collection of loosely connected thoughts strung together to create a book. Here is the plan presented in the book -- Find a $250,000 that you can purchase for $190,000 from a motivated seller, and sell it to someone else for $230,000, then retire rich.

Not much of a plan if you ask me, especially when where I live, a $250,000 would be a mansion, not a 3 bedroom 2 bath starter house. A real presented plan would be, do A, B, C, D, etc.

What he is suggesting in the book is not investing, rather it is speculating in real estate. While there is nothing wrong with that, let's call it what it is.

His other book, "Unlimited Riches," which I also own, covers everything here, and is a much better written book. It at least presents a cohesive plan that a novice might be able to follow.

The book updates us on where Mr. Shemin is going in his life, and career. He lets us know that he got out of the landlord business and is now speculating in real estate and "writing paper," (hard money lending) as he calls it.

I have read many what I call "Rah Rah" books. There is nothing wrong with convincing people that they too can succeed in real estate, but this book doesn't even do that.

I always try to find 2 or 3 new ideas, even out of a bad book. While there are a few ideas that make me go, "Hmm, interesting," there are no sonic booms here. The book comes off as an advertisement for his real estate seminars and multilevel marking of some products, nothing wrong with that, but not much else for me to sink my teeth into.

I am presently reading his new book "How to Avoid the 75 Mistakes Every Investor Makes." That book should have been 50 Mistakes, but they stretched a few to get 75. Mind you, they are not bad, just that some didn't even take up half a page, and there are 250 pages in that book.

If you have the money, buy the book, but if you have to choose between this one and another one, pass this one by. However, that said, do purchase his Millionaire books. They are worth the money.

In closing, I'd like to find someone who would write a book on how to check real estate records for liens. You know, the nitty gritty work of real estate investing. Instead, they all want you to pay the $1000 for this information.

Robert Shemin is the real deal, and walks his talk. His other books have great tools to make the money you desire. "Secrets of Buying and Selling Realestate" is the icing on the cake. It gives you practical advice that you can take to the bank. Robert gives you step by step tools, and takes the guess work out of the realestate picture. Just by reading the book, you can tell that this man has experienced everything he has written about.

Laying the foundation, learning the process, focus, and determination are the keys to a successful realestate business. Robert Shemin does it again. He gives you all this and more. He includes sample contracts, advantages and disadvantages, and most important, how to be creative with making the money you desire.

Guaranteed, you can trust his practical advice and implement his strategies. This book is a winner!!! I highly recommend it to anyone who is a beginner or advanced realestate investor. You will only learn and make real money from Roberts book.

Robert Shemin does not tout any get rich quick schemes or messages from this book or any other book he has written. Shemin is a practicing investor, out in the trenches daily writing contracts on properties & making very good money for doing it. This author does not promote illegal pyramid schemes! Mr. Shemin teaches what he knows and practices it daily. Everything that Shemin does, is well above the board! In fact every red cent that he makes on his book sales, he never sees, because it all goes to charity! Shemin makes his money on the properties that he buys, sells & holds. I have been following Shemin for a few years & have read everything he has written. I have also seen him in person at RE conventions & I have spoken to him personally. This man is the REAL DEAL & I am a confirmed Sheminite!

I found the book to be very informative and user friendly. It is the type of reference that should be apart of anyones library trying to start a business for the first time.

My partner & I found this book to be extremely helpful in putting together our SBA loan application, the case histories were "very" useful & the "Insider Tips" saved us a great deal of time & trouble. By the way our loan was approved on the first go around "SBA" is a great agency!

Excellent reference with cases giving you insight on small business loan scenarios. Also, the book is very user friendly.