Dear Barry,

In a recent column, you recommended that a homeowner install a thermal insulating blanket on his water heater to conserve energy. I strongly disagree for the following reasons:

1. Manufacturers void their warranties if the labels on their water heaters are obscured.  more...

DEAR BOB: I just thought you should know about how great a really good mortgage broker can be. Having read your articles every week for years, I know there are a few "sleezeball" mortgage brokers out there. But my husband and I had a real tough situation. We sold our old home because of my husband's job promotion and transfer. His employer's relocation company was worthless. We found the home we wanted to buy. But, we have a "checkered" credit history. My credit report is great, with a 740 FICO score. But my husband's credit report is pretty bad, with only a 594 FICO score.  more...

If you enjoy reading books about successful real estate investors, you will love "Trump: Think Like a Billionaire," by Donald J. Trump. Although I favorably reviewed Trump's four previous real estate books, this is his best "triumph" yet.

His latest book is light on specifics and heavy on generalities, but it makes fascinating reading for anyone involved with real estate. The reason is it shows how a super-successful realty investor thinks and acts. Plus, it's a very enjoyable, as well as educational, read.  more...