HOME WORTHY

A guide to buying a first property from a real estate broker and HGTV Canada host.

Rinomato offers personal-development advice that draws on her many years of real estate broker wisdom, along with frequent references to Napoleon Hill’s 1937 self-help classic Think and Grow Rich. She says that single women—who, she says, comprise 1 in 4 home buyers—are her favorite demographic to work with, though her book will be readily useful to any person hunting for their first property. The author’s approach is right on the money, as one’s living space is a deeply emotional topic, and naturally, purchasing your first involves more than budgets and spreadsheets. Buyers are juggling personal agendas, parents, societal expectations, potential partners, and lifestyle changes. As a result, Rinomato advises readers to ask themselves what they really want. The book alternates among three main sources: the author’s own life, case studies of her clients, and the self-improvement genre. What makes this book worth a read is its delightfully dressed-down style; the voice is forthright, plain, no-nonsense, with a touch of self-admitted snark. What comes through again and again are Rinomato’s profound empathy and fierce advocacy for people wanting to build wealth and independence through real estate. The self-help–speak becomes a bit repetitive, but readers will forgive this foible, as goal setting, focused visualization, and positive thinking are genuinely indispensable when undertaking such a monumental and personal project. Dipping into psychology and sociology, Rinomato shows how often people create their own obstacles, and she offers practical strategies and suggestions for overcoming and bypassing fears and hang-ups. The handy final chapter provides a useful summary of pointers, fine-tuned to each step in the property-buying process.

An essential read for those looking to buy a home.