If you're new to the real estate market - either buying or selling - you will be offered more advice than you know how to handle, and told more horror stories than you can bear to listen to. Horror stories are the point of this book, which is part of the “Staying Sane” series. Several essays by contributing authors describe psychotic real estate agents, crazy sellers, and problem-infested houses in all kinds of scenarios, from buying a co-op to having a modular home transported (and having part of it end up on the freeway).

Staying Sane is designed to put you more at ease about the house buying or selling process. All the stories end happily. Despite the trials and tribulations of real estate, everything works out in the end, and the underlying message for you is that it will work out for you, too.

Throughout the book, helpful hints are highlighted. The book emphasizes the importance of a fresh coat of paint and a clean interior when selling. It also shows you that if your dream house falls through, you may end up getting a better one. Although the book advertises itself as being humorous, it isn't laugh out loud funny. It is, however, hopeful and encouraging.

If you are completely clueless about home buying or selling, as I am, then this is not the best resource for you. Staying Sane does not walk you step-by-step through the process. But it does offer real anecdotes by people who have been there, and it gives you an idea of the worst case scenarios that could occur, and how to avoid the mistakes that the authors made.