Even the dumbest dummy knows "Mortgages for Dummies" (IDG Books, $16.99) is bound for the real estate non-fiction bestseller list.

And, with so many mortgage money tomes to peruse, that's good news for the weary real estate consumer trying to sort out the best deal for what could be his or her most valuable purchase ever.

The latest in the "Dummies" real estate line, "Mortgages for Dummies" prepares you for the mortgage application and it helps you locate a loan and land a lender. It also teaches you about refinancing and other mortgage loans, it reveals prepaying loan secrets, offers 10 mortgage "don'ts" and it includes the obligatory amortization tables and helpful glossary.

"Mortgages for Dummies" comes with the proven punch of the Ray Brown-Eric Tyson realty writing team in combination with IDG's trademark icons -- reminders, tips, warning bombs, beware (shark fins), cartoons, wisecracks, anecdotes and "The Part of Tens" lists.

Whether you are buying a new home, moving up or refinancing your current mortgage, it's a book destined to find a permanent space on your bookshelf.

Belying the implication of its trademarked name, the "Dummies" book never talks down to readers, but renders tedious mortgage information palatable with the insightful humor and concise writing of two of the best real estate authors.

In one of the nation's most volatile real estate markets, Brown is a veteran San Francisco-based real estate broker with more than two decades of field experience who also talks a good story as a radio talk show host (Ray Brown on Real Estate) and public speaker.

Tyson is a Stanford MBA of a personal finance counselor, syndicated freelance writer and author of the personal finance, investing, mutual funds and taxes "Dummies" guides, as well as a lecturer and sought-after media source for interviews on a variety of financial and economic subjects.

The two previously teamed up for IDG best sellers " Home Buying for Dummies" and " House Selling for Dummies," both $16.99.

Certainly no dummies about today's mortgage shopper, who in growing numbers turn to the Net to find a mortgage, Brown and Tyson were sure to include among "The Part of Tens," "Ten Tips for Using the Internet's Mortgage Sites."

Published: March 31, 1999

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