The Automatic Millionaire Homeowner

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).

With intuitive, energizing writing, Bach speaks to people at all levels of financial sophistication--from shortsighted and na•ve to disciplined and ready to buy a home. The mechanics of his automatic-saving formula are well known; what he adds in this audio is an array of practical advice on tasks like saving for a home, selecting and inspecting one, arranging financing, and negotiating a great price. Oliver Wyman sounds like he could be Bach's twin brother because he speaks with the same cadence and enthusiasm one hears when the author reads his books. With a clear delivery and no overselling, Wyman will make listeners want to reconsider their procrastination about becoming homeowners. T.W. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

March 1, 2007
Bach (Start Late, Finish Rich ) adds to his successful series of titles on financial management with a work that focuses on making money in real estate. Once again, he provides pragmatic advice on how to accumulate wealth through home ownership in any market. He shows how, with a simple, automatic plan, listeners can, over time, make the dynamic real estate business work for their financial independence. You will learn how to buy a first home, even with lousy credit and tiny savings; how homeowners can turn the roof over their heads into a powerful investment that increases in value while they live in it; and how to buy rental property while paying a home mortgage. Bach succinctly summarizes his key principles, including why you shouldn't wait to buy property, how to use his automatic down payment solution, and his secret system for debt-free home ownership. This book nicely supplements Bach'sThe Automatic Millionaire . The impressive, solid narration by Gavin Hammon helps keep listeners on track through some of the more detailed information. Highly recommended for all public libraries.Dale Farris, Groves, TX

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