Finding the Uncommon Deal: A Top New York Lawyer Explains How to Buy a Home For the Lowest Possible Price

If you are making an investment and a home and spending $100,000 or $1,000,000 you are a fool not to read this book. Spend the $10, take the couple hours and read it. It reads quick and gets right to the point. I know a fair amount about real estate but this is a quick read and you are bound to learn something.It will not only help you understand things about the market, loans, sellers, bankers, and agents, but it will help you deal with your real estate agent and mortgage broker as well. Just being informed goes a REALLY long way.

One of New York City's most successful, visible and aggressive real estate lawyers takes you gently by the hand and leads you through the entire process of making the most important investment of your life: buying a home. But beyond being a detailed account of every step along the way, all of the preparation you should take as you consider buying--including deciding exactly how much you can afford to spend--and all of the traps and pitfalls that lay in wait for you in making a purchase, from unforeseen horrors to stiff closing costs, "Finding the Uncommon Deal" is also a "How to Win Friends and Influence People" for the 21st Century. Aside from his thoroughly and straightforwardly presented advice, the urgings to explore with due diligence every aspect of your future investment, be it a house, condominium, coop, or condop, and the neighborhood where you're buying, Adam Leitman Bailey's book is a sterling primer on how to negotiate effectively. Structured like Dale Carnegie's book, each chapter, after giving a thorough account of every step toward making the purchase and the deal itself, is illustrated with exciting episodes from Bailey and his clients' own lives --including the nightmare of the sociopathic millionaire tax evader who tried to make off with Mr. Bailey's downpayment; and the suspenseful story of the woman who bought, along with a building, the shady, alcoholic seller who made a handshake deal to live as her tenant rent free, without mentioning that he'd already sold the property to someone else: the ensuing early-morning race to the title office to file first leads Mr. Bailey *face* first into the fist of the irate, competing purchaser (even here he demonstrates his street smarts, by hitting the deck in order to cool the temper of his attacker: a good ploy that didn't keep him from taking a few more blows, though he did win the race to file the title!)--and then an easy-to-follow guide to the chapter's lessons. Based on a purchaser's tolerance for risk, Mr. Bailey tells you how to negotiate directly with a seller without making a downpayment, and where to look and how far to go in finding short sales, pre-foreclosures and other distressed properties that can become dream homes at unbeatable discounts, and he walks you through the delicate maneuvers that must be made in dealing with a seller whose back is against the wall. Really, the book is an act of generosity: Mr. Bailey teaches, for the $12.31 purchase price, what he does as an attorney at a much higher rate. Like Dr. Benjamin Spock's "Baby and Child Care," this is an important book of its time, whose lessons reach beyond its subject, and can be applied to other areas of your life. My well-dog-eared copy will certainly accompany me along my journey. Don't leave home to buy a home without it.

Very good book. The view of a real estate transaction from a lawyer for lay people.

Adam's book is truly uncommon and a must read for the avid real estate entrepreneur, first time home buyer, and any first year associate (attorney) who wants a career in real estate transaction work. The book provides the step by step process in searching for, investigating, and acquiring a piece of real estate. The no nonsense language is a breath of fresh air when compared to other real estate books promising easy money. Adam focuses heavily on the due dilligence, which is a key component of buying property. This book will save you from frustration and wasting money in your entrepreneurial and home buying endeavors. It is highly motivational and should encourage people to take advantage of these uncertain economic times. I already read the book once, but I plan on reading it again to take notes.

Buying a home can be a complicated and expensive process and walking into it with the right tools is essential. This book is definitely one you will want to refer to, both before you begin the process, but also along the way. In Finding the Uncommon Deal, Adam Bailey shares his unique perspective and knowledge as a real estate lawyer, and the advice he gives is invaluable! He really pulls the curtain back on the home buying process, not only sharing advice and direction, but great insider tips as well. His goal is to help you find a home for the lowest price possible, and he provides all the necessary knowledge and techniques to do so. I cannot stress enough how much help this book could be.

I've read quite a few real estate investing books over the years and usually glean something good from each one. When I purchased this book I was expecting some new and exciting technique to "find the uncommon deal", plus it had some great reviews. I was very disappointed. It was mostly a review of VERY basic real estate topics. If you've never purchased a house before and want a basic guide then this is a great book for you. If you're more than just a beginner, save your money. There are tons of books better than this one.

Great tips on everything from financing to the purchase of title insurance is covered. Adam Bailey leaves no detail unmentioned, even down to the smallest detail. One example is the idea of spending time in the community stores and talking to locals in order to learn more about the neighborhood you are thinking of buying in, as this can be an invaluable means to discovering important information that could impact your purchase. From the more simple suggestions like this one to the more complex, such as how to find the best buyer's broker, he provides a wealth of inside information that is sure to aid anyone who is looking to get the most for their money. This is the book the seller will wish you hadn't read!