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Real Estate Investors Deskbook, 3d ed., by Alvin L. Arnold. Published by Warren, Gorham & Lamont, Boston, Massachusetts, 1994, 884 pages, $149.00, hardcover. The magnitude of the coverage of the real estate subject in the Real Estate Investor's Deskbook is unparalleled. It includes important and helpful components not always found in reference books and textbooks, including a table of abbreviations and a table of contents that points directly to a specific topic or a specific part of a topic.
Further, specific sources-whether they are from a legal decision, a state or federal law, the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), or a quotation from a recognized expert-are noted and accompanied by brief explanations of the subject matter.
The book offers enough information to satisfy an inquiring mind but also encourages readers to seek additional explanations if needed. The book's 13 chapters cover-often very thoroughly-virtually every aspect of the real estate business.
For example, the section on "exchanging" lists the advantages and disadvantages, tax requirements and consequences, and IRS rules with a complete example. This deskbook could easily be adapted for textbook use, given a knowledgeable and experienced teacher. Although the title mentions "investors," the book is equally useful to someone who advises investors, such as a counselor or an appraiser. The book's scope covers the...