This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Mr. Manning has been an appraiser in California for over thirty-five years specializing in residential properties. He is certified with the State of California as an appraiser and approved to appraise all types of residential properties. He began his career in 1973 after attending real estate courses at Pasadena City College. In the late 1970’s, he joined the appraiser roster of Fannie Mae as an approved appraiser and later became a member of the FHA panel. He has been qualified as an expert witness in both Superior Courts in Northern California and United States Federal District Court, Northern District of California where he was an expert witness in one of the largest real estate fraud cases in California history (U.S. vs. George I. Benny). He has performed appraisals and/or reviews for almost every major bank in the country as well as mortgage insurance companies, builders, accountants, and attorneys.
His report writing skills segued into a fascination with story-telling and the written word. He wrote and produced the documentary “Why Dance?” and the short film “The Queen of Spades”) to writing musicals (“The Naughty Princess“). He has received rave reviews by Booklist, Library Journal, Midwest Book Review, and others for his documentary “Why Dance?” as well as being nominated for “Best Educational Documentary” at the “9th Annual DVD Awards with Leonard Maltin”. His films have screened at numerous film festivals including Hollywood and London.
Reviewed by Anne Boiling for Readers' Favorite
James E. Manning is an appraiser in the real estate market. He brings his expertise to his book Public Trust Betrayed. He discusses the greed and stupidity that has placed us in the economic crisis that we now face. Each day we hear of more foreclosures. People are walking away from their loans because there is no way they can pay them and there is no longer “a moral obligation to keep making the mortgage payments.”
Manning shares his story…how he became an appraiser. I enjoyed his appraisal adventures. Once he was surrounded by police with guns pointed at him. Then there was the time he appraised the home of a Nazi. There was also a mansion filled with animals, horses, chickens, etc.
Manning describes the corruption of the industry. Bribes and kick backs are not uncommon. The appraiser gets pressure from all sides, the seller, the buyer, the mortgage company all want a certain price. “The FBI recently stated that they have over 1400 cases of mortgage fraud currently under investigation.”
Public Trust Betrayed is well written. Most readers will understand Manning’s points. This book is about real estate appraisal; naturally there are a lot of real estate terms. I found this book to be very informative. By adding personal accounts the author prevented the text from bogging down in facts. Manning explains why we have a credit crisis and what changes need to take place to prevent further deterioration.
