Farm Appraisal Principals: Gentlemen Scoundrels Professionals

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Narrative Spin on Appraisals

Farm Appraisal Principals: Gentlemen Scoundrels Professionals
Robert C. Suter
Manufacturer: Eakin Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Retirement Planning | Personal Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1571689672

Book Description

Farm Appraisal Principals: Gentlemen, Scoundrels, Professionals is a summary of numerous farm and ranch appraisals done in the United States, including some of the sorry flops and failures. It also details some of the changes that have occurred in the appraisal professions.

Any appraiser, assessor, farm loan officer, attorney, or judicial activist —anywhere— will benefit greatly from the wisdom collected in Farm Appraisal Principals.

Customer Reviews:

Narrative Spin on Appraisals.......2003-01-22

"A farm appraisal is a definite, detailed, and written opinion as to the value of a farm, ranch, or other property as of a given date. The value established is the property's present market value." -Dr. Suter

For over 50 years, Dr. Robers C. Suter has had the opportunity to study and to think about farm appraisals. He also taught the appraisal course to juniors and seniors in the College of Agriculture at Purdue University.

He is well-known as a practical, informative and experienced teacher. He is also known for teaching two-day seminars for realtors, appraisers, farm loan officers and assessors in 29 states.

He has written a book about farm and ranch appraisals done in the United States. This book answers questions farm appraisers have been asking for years. It provides constructive suggestions through numerous stories. Former students lamented that they had wished they had a copy of Dr. Suter's anecdotes, parables and vignettes.

You might ask how an appraiser gains experience.

"Numerous seminars teach adherence to certain standards, which is good. However neither the college classrooms nor the appraisal seminars recognize the wide variation in farm and ranch properties and in appraisal techniques." -Dr. Robert C. Suter

That is the reason for this book. To present in capsule fashion, a variety of "hands on" experiences. Some good, some bad. Obtaining experience in this field is a lifetime task. Now everyone can have access to the stories.

The chapters:

Introduction - the basics
Challenges
This is a Farm?
The Real Estate Market
Of, By, And For the People
Legal Description and Property Transfer
What Value and Whose Value?
An Appraiser's Modus Operandi
The Appraiser's handbook
The Income Approach to Value
How When Not In Perpetuity
The Comparable Sales Approach to Value
Sale Price Adjustments
Installment Land Contracts
The Inventory or Cost Approach to Value
Building Valuation
Property Insurance
Ad Valorem Property Assessment
Farm Loan Appraisal
Eminent Domain and Condemnation Appraisal
Partial And Fractional Intersets
Unique Farms and Appraisals

Within these 22 chapters, you will learn why an appraiser is well worth hiring. By spending the small amount of money to hire an appraiser you may find your land to be worth much more than you thought.

Dr. Suter presents stories and then analyzes the results. I found it was quite interesting reading and gives insight into how appraisals are written.

Some of the stories include:

How Do You Count 30,000 Hogs?
How to Sell Land to the Government
What's Land in Your Area Worth Today?
$35 Appraisals are not Illegal - the difference between being certified or qualified
Appraiser or Insurance Agent ... Which?

I had to laugh at the cute "Thanx Goodness for Spell Chex" poem. I hadn't really ever thought about how long walnut trees take to grow and didn't realize that a knight in full armor weighed 350 pounds. Some of the fun little tidbits only a teacher would think to put in their book. You can also learn a bit about history throughout the book. Like in the Cherry County, Nebraska story there is information about early settlers and tribes. Wait until you read about the "skyscraper" and illegal stock swindle.

Also look for:

The Appraisal of Farm Real Estate
The Professional Farm Manager and Agricultural Consultant

A book about a challenging profession with a good helping of advice from a teacher who has "lived" the life of an appraiser.

Not just for appraisers. Anyone interested in purchasing a farm should also make this required reading.

~The Rebecca Review
Author of Seasoned with Love: A collection of
best-loved recipes inspired by over 40 cultures

Customer Reviews:

The young Ulysses S. Grant.......2006-01-02

Lloyd Lewis's "Captain Sam Grant" is a well-written study of the young Ulysses S. Grant, from his boyhood in Ohio through his years at West Point to his service in the Mexican War and his hard times in the interwar years.

U.S. Grant continues to be something of a mystery to students of the Civil War. Lewis's biography reveals a person who seems very ordinary and even unpromising in many respects; there are only a few hints of the man who would be the victorious commander of the Union armies in the Civil War. As a boy, Grant seems diffident and naive; the West Point cadet is average and unremarkable in his class rank; as a young officer, Grant performs with determination and even bravery against Mexico but dislikes the basis of the conflict. Posted to Calfornia after the Mexican War, Grant struggles with alcoholism and resigns from the Army in near disgrace. After the Army, Sam Grant wanders from business failure to business failure; his only obvious success is his marriage to Julia Dent. At the end of this volume, Grant seizes a chance for redemption by returning to uniform as the Civil War breaks out. The stage is set for his appointment with destiny as a successful Union general.

After Lewis's untimely death, the two succeeding volumes of this study of Grant were written by famed Civil War historian Bruce Cattan from Lewis's notes and research. Lewis never had the chance to fully summarize his research into the growth of Grant's character. One may infer from this first volume that Grant was a man whose hard life had stripped his thinking down to the essentials and who was less likely than most to be distracted from his purpose. By 1861, Grant was very likely a man who understand that the best way to deal with hard times was with determination and relentless forward movement.

The scholarship behind "Captain Sam Grant" may be a little dated, but this book is still highly recommended to the student of the life of Ulysses Grant and of the Civil War.

Enjoyable, But Flawed.......2003-06-20

"Captain Sam Grant" must rank with William McFeely's "Grant" and Brooks Simpson's "Triumph Over Adversity" as the most overrated USG biographies ever written. This look at Grant's pre-Civil War years simply is not as accurate and reliable as some previous reviewers would have us believe. Lewis frequently makes assertions without providing adequate evidence for these statements, and he occasionally cites dubious or discredited sources. The book, in many places, reads more like an speculative historical novel than a serious academic study. Also, in my opinion, Lewis spends way too much time on the Mexican war.

That said, it is not without virtues. It is engaging and, in its folksy way, well written. Lewis' portrait of Grant's quietly complicated character generally rings true. The book is an enjoyable read, as long as the reader does not expect too much.

The finest description of the Mexican/American war ever........1998-11-02

As a student of Spanish American History, I wonder why this book was not assigned reading when I was in college. The first part deals with family and youth of a precocious lad whose father saw in the Military Academy the Chance for a free education for his son. Grant was a most capable horseman whose ability was appreciated. His first military assignments in the northwest were less than appealing to a man in love, and far from home. His reputation as a drinker began at this time. He was a virtual failure at whatever he attempted to do except crossing the Isthmus of Panama. And he proved his mettle during the Mexican American War along with other familiar West Point cadets who would subsequently become famous leaders on both sides of the Civil War and, later, wars of Indian reduction in the west. In Volume One, the boy becomes a man and soldier. But its greatest greatest contribution is its telling of the Mexican American War and the attitute of those who fought it.

Fantastic resource!.......1998-05-24

It's a great pity in Grant scholarship that the author of this book, Lloyd Lewis, died prematurely and was not able to continue his trilogy of Grant. Though the able Bruce Catton continued the project, he was never the writer or researcher that was Lloyd Lewis. This book is a remarkably accurate and clear portrayal of Ulysses Grant as a young man. The book ends on the eve of the Civil War, when Grant was stuck in his father's leather shop, bored and aching for something meaningful to do with his life. At 39, the civil war found Grant (or Grant found the war, take your pick) and history was never the same.

Lewis was known for his punctilious and dilligent research and it is a pleasure to read a book devoid of errors and rich in interpretation. He illuminates Grant as he *really* was: a decent, engaging, modest and clear-headed young man, destined for greatness but not quite knowing what to do with his considerable talents. This is one of the most outstanding Grant biographies and a must-read for anyone interested in the life and times of our greatest general.

Average customer rating:

One of the great Grant biographies

Captain Sam Grant/1822-1861

Manufacturer: Little Brown & Co (Pap)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0316523321

Customer Reviews:

One of the great Grant biographies.......2004-04-04

Lewis was known for his punctilious and dilligent research and it is a pleasure to read a book devoid of errors and rich in interpretation. He illuminates Grant as he *really* was: a decent, engaging, modest and clear-headed young man, destined for greatness but not quite knowing what to do with his considerable talents. The only slight criticism is that Lewis spends too much time on the military aspects of the Mexican War, but you can skim through those passages. This is one of the most outstanding Grant biographies and a must-read for anyone interested in the life and times of our greatest general.

Average customer rating:
Captain Sam Grant, 1822-1861,
Lloyd Lewis
Manufacturer: Little Brown & Co (P)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OTV5EM

Book Description

The 2003 Cumulative Supplement (ISBN: 0-471-25012-0) includes new information on:

IRS Information letters
Electronic filing of Form 990
IRS private letter rulings and technical advice memorandums
Guidance on Internet activities
Intermediate sanctions
1023/1024 forms

The supplement updates the core volume, Blazek/Tax Planning and Compliance for Tax-Exempt Organizations, Third Edition (ISBN: 0-471-29380-6).

Tax Planning and Compliance for Tax-Exempt Organizations: Forms, Checklists, Procedures, Third Edition, 2003 Cumulative Supplement

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Tax Planning and Compliance for Tax-Exempt Organizations: Forms, Checklists, Procedures, Third Edition, 2003 Cumulative Supplement
Jody Blazek
Manufacturer: John Wiley & Sons Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Taxation | Law | Subjects | Books

General | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0471361380

Book Description

This update of a classic contains clear-cut answers to all procedural and tax process questions. There is straightforward information on changing UBI rules, joint ventures, sponsorships, deductions against UBI, preparation of IRS forms, and more. Includes checklists and complete citations.

Average customer rating:

Expert of Real Estate BS and Nothing More

No facts only a promotion of real estate agents

Some good info, but biased against FSBO.

This book is a thinly disguised advertising for realtors

Do It Right the First Time!

How to Sell Your Home Fast, for the Highest Price in Any Market
Terry Eilers
Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Buying & Selling Homes | Real Estate | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
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How to Buy the Home You Want, for the Best Price, in Any Market

100 Questions Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Ask: With Answers from Top Brokers from Around the Country (100 Questions Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Ask)

ASIN: 0786882247

Customer Reviews:

Expert of Real Estate BS and Nothing More.......2003-07-26

Total waste of time. Has a few trivial points on dealing with realtors. Buy Effros book on "Sell Your Home in 5 Days" if you want to go the FSBO route. I am an investor who owns 40 residential properties. This book will go on my shelf as minor reference because I maintain a library. I only recommend this book if you are so shaky in the knees that you are affraid of trying Effros round robin auction on your home.

No facts only a promotion of real estate agents.......2002-11-13

This book is useless because of its clear bias against selling by owner. Even a real estate agent knows that the best way to sell your house fast and net the highest amount of money is to sell it yourself.

BOTTOM LINE: A poor attempt by a real estate agent to promote the commission-based real estate industry.
Book is useless!

Some good info, but biased against FSBO........2002-09-14

This book contains some very good advice if you are able to weed out the almost embarrassingly biasede pro-realtor misinformation.

Pros: Good info on writing ads, what to do--and not to do--when preparing the home for sale.

Cons: Biased and untruthful information for FSBO sellers, concentrates whenever possible on how difficult it is for FSBO to succeed without the special care that a professional real estate agent can bring to a sale. It would be laughable if it weren't intimidating to first time FSBO prospects.

If you can get past the manipulative realtor hype, there's good info here.

Don't pay full price for this one unless you aspire to being a realtor or are related to one.

This book is a thinly disguised advertising for realtors.......2001-11-22

This book is a thinly disguised attempt to convince a seller that only a realtor has the ability to handle the transaction so that it goes smoothly and gets the best price.

There is a "should I sell my home myself checklist" (ie: For Sale By Owner 'FSBO') that is cleverly worded to intimidate and discourage anyone from FSBO.

Also, it practically glorifies the abilities of realtors and paints the whole process as extremely complex and it suggests to the seller to accept the most restrictive and lucrative contract that a realtor can get.

Some may say that the information is good but given that it is embedded in such an intimidating and confidence reducing tone, I would reccomend you search for other books that, instead, explain the process clearly and completely in such a mannor that you feel confident in your understanding of it - regardless of whether you use a realtor or not....

Do It Right the First Time!.......2001-09-27

In assessing this book, I draw on my experience as an attorney, real estate broker, and someone who sold a home for top dollar.

Most people think about selling their home (or condo or co-op) as pretty simple if they liked the real estate agent. Just call up that person, and follow her or his advice.

While that may work for some, for many it will not. Why? Well, agents who are really good at helping buyers are usually not as helpful to sellers. Those agents who you didn't like so much when you were buying may do a much better job for you as a seller. Also, no agent can know everything. You want to learn all of the best approaches, don't you?

Mr. Eilers gives you frank, objective advice that can help you overcome any weaknesses your favorite agent may have. Also, if you are a good candidate to sell your own home, this book will tell you how. It will also give you advice for reducing your selling costs and getting a higher price. He has trained thousands of real estate agents, and in the process has learned a great deal from them which you will benefit from by reading this outstanding book. I wholeheartedly endorse his approach!

The book takes you through helping to decide if you want to sell, how to handle buying a new place while you sell the existing home, deciding about agents, getting the house ready for sale, pricing, listing, showing, handling negotiations, and handling any problems that come up.

Resources in the book include many forms and worksheets, other resources you can draw upon, and an extensive glossary to help you understand the terms that will be thrown around in the process.

If you haven't sold a home recently, the rules are changing. Sellers often have to disclose and give warranties about hidden defects.

The economy is probably in recession, unemployment is soaring, and the mood of buyers is sour in many areas. You will need to do a good job to get the best results.

Also, realize that buyers come better prepared than ever before, even first-time buyers. I suggest you read 100 Questions Every First Time Home Buyer Should Ask by Ilyce R. Glink to help you understand how your purchaser will have been prepared to check your home and you out.

Selling a home is no fun. You can let it get you down, and that will cost you time, effort, and money. Look upon it as a challenge, and as a well paying opportunity to do your best. In a tough market like this one, you will need to be on your toes if you want to have your sale go smoothly.

Take pride and pleasure in selling your home in an effective, professional manner!

Average customer rating:

Hero Worship from a Distance

A Music Mogals Dramatic Rise to the Top of the Music World

Inspirational for future moguls!!!

Singular fails again.

Fun read

The Rise and Rise of David Geffen
Stephen Singular
Manufacturer: Birch Lane Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Entertainers | Arts & Literature | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
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The Mansion on the Hill: Dylan, Young, Geffen, Springsteen, and the Head-on Collision of Rock and Commerce

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ASIN: 1559724307

Customer Reviews:

Hero Worship from a Distance.......2000-08-02

Interesting story about one man's rise from the porch of poverty to the mansions of Beverly Hills. The story is well researched and well reported, but it seems that Geffen is a hero to the author, and there is a positive slant placed on almost all his actions. The actions of his rivals are seen almost always in a negative light.

The choice for references was kind of strange to me, too, including long quotes from "Queer in America."

This shows the work of a hero-worshipping author writing from afar. One who sat down with David Geffen and spent time and effort to interview and understand the man might come up with a much different, and much better, work.

A Music Mogals Dramatic Rise to the Top of the Music World.......1999-10-04

Stephen Singular details the meteoric rise of a music moguls rise from a working class Brooklyn family to a major player in the entertainment industry. Personal secrets are shared with the reader including a lost love with Cher and the pain of admitting his sexuality in public. A great read for someone intrested in how the entertainment industry works or just how to claw your way to the top.

Inspirational for future moguls!!!.......1999-07-09

Rags to riches...David to Mr. Geffen, Sir. This book is a true testament to hard work does have it rewards. David Geffen's rise was phenomenonal but with his work ethic and business savvy it was actually expected. It landmarked Geffen's rivalries and inhibitions and showed how he made the big mergers of the conglomerates in the 90's work for him. A fine road map for future moguls. Slow reading in the beginning but it made up for it in the end. A fine piece.

Singular fails again........1998-08-05

I bought the book without knowing that its author, S. Singular, is also responsible for a work on M. Ovitz- which received almost uniformly bad critics. It probably won`t be different with this title. Once again, no personal contact to Geffen was established; Singular simply presents a potpourri of well- known facts, mixed with sentences like "when he (Geffen) wanted Sex, he found it". The interview Geffen gave Playboy magazine in `94 is more informative than this scrappy Singular product. I strongly advise against buying this book.

Fun read.......1998-04-09

One of the things I liked about this book was that the author occasionally made attempts to understand the man that David Geffen has become by describing the path that took him there starting with his childhood experiences. What I was interested in was how a Brooklyn kid coming from an apparently modest background could rise to the top. I wanted to know what kept him going. This book was a good start. Unlike several other books on entertainment moguls, it provided more than an overview of historical facts, by quoting interviews with people who personally knew Geffen.

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The Rise And Rise Of David Geffen -
Stephen Singular -
Manufacturer: Birch Lane Publishing -
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000R9OUFA

Customer Reviews:

I love Cora Sanel........2006-01-20

Like Ms. Essex, I do not read Norwegian; yet, I am a devoted reader of anything by or about Cora Sandel. She is my favorite author. I was overjoyed to see this book come out, and purchased it immediately.

My literature education doesn't go beyond undergraduate classes(chiefly in French language and literature) so I assume Ms. Essex's analyses are helpful and informative.

It appears she has obtained an English translation of the biography by Odd Solumsmen without sharing many details about Sandel's life or even working to get this book published for anglophone readers. Bizarre.

Equally bizarre are erroneous historical and geographic comments; notably Norwegian post-WWI unmarried women and the Country's counties or regions. Not only was Norway neutral during the Great or First World War, there are many "back flashes" and comments in "Alberta Alone" that allude to Norway's neutrality vis-à-vis France! "Alberta and Jacob" does not take place in Finnmark. Cora Sandel wrote with a detailed understanding of geography and history as well as the human spirit. Inaccurate portrayal of characters and their locations is a disservice.

Still, I am grateful to Ms. Essex's contribution to information about this great author. I ultimately benefited from it.

A quiet renaissance in Cora Sandel scholarship.(Book Review): An article from: Scandinavian Studies

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A quiet renaissance in Cora Sandel scholarship.(Book Review): An article from: Scandinavian Studies
Ellen Rees
Manufacturer: Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Study
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Scandinavian Studies, published by Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Study on December 22, 2003. The length of the article is 4178 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: A quiet renaissance in Cora Sandel scholarship.(Book Review)
Author: Ellen Rees
Publication: Scandinavian Studies (Refereed)
Date: December 22, 2003
Publisher: Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Study
Volume: 75 Issue: 4 Page: 591(10)

Article Type: Book Review

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