The Automatic Millionaire Homeowner

Starred review from January 23, 2006
He's Baaaach, with a seventh book dedicated to helping readers store up a bundle. Though readers of Bach's Start Late, Finish Rich
and The Automatic Millionaire
will encounter some familiar material, the bestselling author offers a great book that first-time homeowners and anyone toying with the notion of investing in real estate will find immensely practical. From questions to ask a realtor to explanations of the fine print in loan contracts, Bach offers universally good advice on how to begin saving and building wealth through homeownership. The book is also wildly motivational; frequent asides urge readers to finish the book quickly and start accumulating assets. True to its promise, the book is a swift read, arming readers with everything they need to know in a simple, accessible manner. Just in case any confusion lingers, end of chapter action lists and free online audio supplements are also provided. Bach's extensive experience in leading financial seminars, motivating audiences to take financial responsibility and snagging appearances on Oprah are apparent in his ability to enthusiastically lead readers through even the most arcane aspects of home buying.

May 1, 2006
This follow-up to Bach's bestseller, The Automatic Millionaire
, guides listeners step-by-step through the transformation from renter to homeowner to landlord. Bach's typical can-do attitude shines through, whether the book is outlining the pros and cons of various types of mortgages or sharing the story of one couple who used home equity as a gateway to financial independence and comfort in retirement. Unfortunately, the audio abridgment has a few glitches, including a misstep in the fifth chapter, which prematurely congratulates listeners on understanding what their credit report is, before knowing how to make sure it's accurate. This topic is not addressed until the following chapter ("Your Credit Score: The Holy Grail of Mortgage Lending"), so listeners may understandably be confused. Also, although actor Oliver Wyman has a beautiful voice, the slick Casey Kasem–style delivery feels wrong for a book that rightly keeps insisting that it is not a get-rich-quick scheme. Bach's solid and time-tested financial advice deserves better than this infomercialesque treatment, which seems more about style than the commonsense approach that is Bach's personal signature. Simultaneous release with the Little, Brown hardcover (Reviews, Jan. 23).

April 1, 2006
Adding to the number of current books on the popular topic of home ownership as a tool for building financial independence, Bach, a well-known strategist for gaining wealth, presents his ideas, which center upon the principles that we all have to live somewhere and over the long term, real estate prices go up, so why not use our homes as an investment vehicle? The author contends that renting will not make anyone rich, down payments do not require large sums of money, and a home can be purchased even if the buyer has credit-card debt. The author's action steps include determining what price of home you can afford and employing strict financial discipline in spending money and consistently adding to a "home" savings account for use in accelerating mortgage payments and ultimately retiring the mortgage ahead of schedule. Although some may not agree with all of Bach's ideas, he offers a thoughtful approach to investment opportunities in home buying and important insight into financial management.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)