An Author Wednesday Interview with George Devine, author of Nolo Books, For Sale by Owner in California and How To Buy a House in California

In almost every economic circumstance, people have wanted to buy homes in California.  This is especially true in the populous coastal areas, but also in other parts of the State.  How can this be done, when prices are higher than in most other States?  This book takes the reader through the process, step-by-step, especially in the key area of financing and the negotiation of a purchase.

 

Read more for the full interview!

Q. Thanks for the interview. Can we begin by having you tell us a little bit about yourself and how long you’ve been working in and writing about this topic?

A. I’ve been a real estate licensee in California since 1976 and prior to writing this book did a weekly column called “Real Estate Handbook” for the San Francisco Progress.

Q. What’s your new book about? Why did you write it? What main message will readers take away from it?

A. The book, co-authored with Ralph Warner and Ira Serkes, is a comprehensive manual for potential homebuyers, showing them how to achieve homeownership in one of the more desirable and expensive parts of the world.

Q. What inspired you to write this book?

A. The impetus came from Ralph Warner’s vision that people wishing to buy a home needed this kind of detailed, hand-holding sort of help; he asked me and fellow real estate broker Ira Serkes to share our experiences and perspectives with the readers.

Q. What were some of the greatest discoveries, lessons, or findings you came across while doing research and writing this book?

A. We learned that the different ways of financing a home purchase become more creative and perhaps more complicated every day, and this brings with it not only opportunities but areas for caution; we try to address as many of these as we can.

Q. What do you feel sets your book apart from others in the same genre?

A. Put simply, we have produced the most comprehensive and detailed book on the subject.

Q. What are 5 things everyone should know in your area of expertise?

A. 1) Homeownership remains desirable and advantageous even in times of financial difficulty or uncertainty; 2) Making checklists of priorities can help structure a home purchase scenario; 3) When it comes to home purchase loans, one size does not fit all; 4) There is no substitute for detailed and conscientious home inspections by licensed and experience professionals; 5) There are a variety of ways to working with, or without, real estate agents.

Q. What does your typical day look like?

A. I wish I knew.  Every day is different and I learn something new each day.

Q. If someone were a complete noobie when it comes to the topic of your book, what are some steps they could take to dive in and get more educated in this area. (Besides reading your book of course!)

A. Read real estate related articles in publications like The Wall Street Journal and major metropolitan newspapers (The New York Times, Los Angeles Times) and pay attention to financial news and discussion programs on the air.

Q. If you could write 1 Golden Rule to take away from your book, what would it be and why?

A. There are usually a variety of ways to reach your goal; don’t give up after trying only the most obvious approaches.

Q. What other resources in addition to your book would you recommend to people to learn more about this area?

A. Consider taking a course in principles of real estate from a local community college or on-line.  It may be very helpful with some of the terms and processes involved.

Q. What are some of your current projects you’ve been working on in this field?

A. I have been revising my course in Real Estate Practice for the University of San Francisco, as well as the two Nolo books I have been involved with.

Q. Thank you for the interview George! Would you like to share where we can find you on the web and how we can buy your book?

A. www.nolo.com

 

About the Author: George Devine is adjunct professor in the School of Business and Professional Studies at the University of San Francisco and an experienced real estate broker in the San Francisco area.  He is the author of For Sale by Owner in California and co-author of How to Buy a House in California, both published in new editions by Nolo.com of Berkeley in 2011.

 

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