Book Description

How do we fatten our portfolios and stay financially healthy? Former hedge-fund manager and longtime Wall Street commentator Jim Cramer explains how to invest wisely in chaotic times, and he does so in plain English in a style that is as much fun as investing is -- or should be, when it's done right.

For starters, Cramer recommends devoting a portion of your assets to speculation. Everyone wants to find the big winners that can bring outsized gains, and Cramer explains how to allocate your portfolio so that you can afford to take this kind of risk wisely. He explains why "buy and hold" is a losing philosophy: For Cramer, it's "buy and homework." If you can't spend an hour a week researching each of your stocks, then you should hand off your portfolio to a mutual fund-- and Cramer identifies the very few mutual funds that he'd recommend.

Cramer reveals his Ten Commandments of Trading (Commandment #5: Tips are for waiters). He explains why he's not afraid to compare investing to gambling (and tells you which book on gambling you should read to become a better investor). He discloses his Twenty-Five Rules of Investing (Rule #4: Look for broken stocks, not broken companies).

Cramer shows how to compare stock prices in a way that you can understand, how to spot market tops and bottoms, how to know when to sell, how to rotate among cyclical stocks to catch the big moves, and much more. Jim Cramer's Real Money is filled with insider advice that really works, information that Cramer himself used to make millions during his fourteen-year career on Wall Street.

Written in Cramer's distinctive turbocharged style, this is every investor's guide to what you really must know to make big money in the stock market. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Best investment book ever
Thanks Cramer for sharing your insights. I have also sign up the action alert, and profit from your realtime calls, thanks all the help.

Thank You Professor Cramer
In Law School, you learn the Law, but you also learn how to Think like a Lawyer. If you want your hand held and told which stock you would Never lose money in..then this book is not for you. But if you want to Learn how to think and analyze like a Pro...then this is the Best Book ever written on this Subject (sorry Benjamin Graham). Reading this book, I was amazed to find so many things Mr. Cramer and the Great Mr. Buffet share in common.. from their thought, anaylsis to their overall personality. Neither one believes in holding more then 15 different companies, both live for Homework and both LOVE a bargain...be it a Stock or shopping at Target or finding a really good price on a Case of Coke (men after my heart). Neither Man waste money or are flashy with their wealth...and I think that is the greatest lesson that these Men (and this Book) can teach our status seeking society. I also suggest that you read this book before you read his first book, Confessions of a Street Addict...because once you have taken Cramer 101, you can truly enjoy Confessions....including the Horror of the $50,000.00 Desk...do you Know HOW much Sears Holding you can buy with that!

Should you listen to Kramer?
Anybody who thinks they know everything about the stock market should be avoided at all costs. Kramer is one of the world's biggest idiots.I am, unfortunately, the world's greater idiot for listening to him time and again... not believing exactly that he knew what he was talking about, but for believing that other people would follow his advice, resulting in a stock going up or down. I have lost many thousands of dollars taking his advice.He has far too much power for his limited intellect;and his bulldog rants move stocks for all the wrong reasons.In my humble opinion,Eliott Spitzer should investigate him.

Very Good
Unlike Cramer's Mad Money TV show, Cramer's Real Money is a little slow to get started. However,like many other books, you have to slog through the "where-I've-been-and-how-I-got-to-where-I-am-today" portion to more appreciate what he has to say when he gets to the meat of the book.Cramer offers an interesting perspective from the "inside", possibly revealing more than some Wallstreeters would prefer, and demonstrates he is not just another financial "talking head".His book is definately a "must read" for anyone in the market today.

Excellent Book on Trading
This is one of the best trading books out there (and I have gone through most of the books on trading and investing). Just the chapters on picking the bottom and top are worth more than the price of the book.Whether or not you agree with everything he says, the book will surely make you think and trade better, and likely wealthier. ... Read more

Amazon.com

If you are tired of struggling to make ends meet but don't know a 401(k) from Special K, this book is for you. Aimed specifically at "Generation Broke"--those in their twenties and thirties who are working yet buried in credit card debt and student loans--this user-friendly guide offers a clear introduction to practical investing and money management techniques that can turn even a dismal financial situation around. Bestselling author Suze Orman has a knack for taking the fear out of money matters, and in The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous &amp: Broke, she shows readers how to set priorities and achieve goals, whether it is to buy a house or save for retirement or pay for a child's education. She also offers inspiration to readers to face their financial problems and get started on a solution. After all, there is good news: young people still have the time to correct problems so that they will never be broke again. Readers who find terms such as diversification and IRA rollover scary--or worse, unimportant--will learn much from this book.

In these pages, Orman clearly and succinctly explains what a FICO score is and why it's so important, offers the lowdown on stocks and mutual funds, provides career advice, and offers lots of tips on dealing with student loan debt, saving money even when times are tight, debt consolidation strategies, and the safest way for newlyweds to merge their finances. She also offers information on credit cards, including why canceling cards is not a good idea, when it makes sense to use them, and the best strategies for paying them off. It may not be the only money book you'll ever need, but it's an excellent place to start. --Shawn Carkonen

All About Suze Orman

The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous & Broke is financial expert Suze Orman's answer to a generation's cry for help. An Emmy-award winner, Orman is the author of four consecutive New York Times® bestsellers, The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom, The Courage to Be Rich, The Road to Wealth, and The Laws of Money, the Lessons of Life. The Money Book was written to address the specific financial reality that young people face today, and it offers a set of real, not impossible, solutions to the problems at hand and the problems ahead.

• Listen to a special message from Suze Orman.
• Visit the Suze Orman Store

Suze Orman: The Bestsellers

The Courage to Be Rich The Road to Wealth The Laws of Money, the Lessons of Life

Suze Orman's Financial Guidebook The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom

Money Cards: Words That Lead to Wealth You've Earned it, Don't Lose It The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous & Broke, Audio CD

Build Your Own Suze Orman Library
The Essentials

The Laws of Money	The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom	You've Earned It, Don't Lose It
Money Cards: Words That Lead to Wealth	Suze Orman's Financial Guidebook	Suze Orman's Will And Trust Kit

Pep Talks: Suze Orman Audios

The Courage to Be Rich, CD	The Road to Wealth, CD	The Laws of Money, the Lessons of Life, CD
The Courage to Be Rich, Cassette	The Road to Wealth, Cassette	The Laws of Money, the Lessons of Life, Cassette

Bestselling Suze Orman Books on DVD

The Laws of Money, the Lessons of Life, 2003	The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom, 2004	The Road to Wealth, 2004
The Suze Orman Collection, 2003	The Courage to Be Rich	The Best of the Suze Orman Collection, 2004

... Read more

Reviews (51)

Beginners book- but thats what I needed !
I read this book along with 'The Idiots Guide to personal finance in your 20s'. Both books were actually very helpful in getting my head together. I graduated 3 ago (hello scary loans), working (poor), and living (tiny space) in New York City. So this book was perfect for a person like me.

It really got me thinking about HOW to take advantage of a 401K and Roth IRA. I am having a great time being young, but when Suzy illustrates how a person who started saving in a 401K at 25 compared to 35 will have hundreds of thousands dollars more by retirement you realise that being responsible is not only smart, but necessary given this recent retirement social security fiasco.

She also gives great motivation to clean up your credit (via your FICO score). As a young person who wants to buy a car and apartment in a few years, you begin to understand how your credit numbers will affect you. Most important- your interest rates on these purchases. She also gives tips on these purchases. Additionally, moving in with someone, getting married, and basics of investing options.

Whats great about the book though is that Suzy motivates you, but also details HOW to get things moving. She offers websites or agencies to further gain financial information.

Buying both Suzy and the Idiots guide may have been a bit redundant. They offer around the same advice, but Idiots guide is a bit easier formatted to read. Its easier for me to reference my Idiots guide. That is the only reason why Suzy gets 4 and not 5 stars.

Average
The advice given can be found in many, many books.Except for a new formating and a slightly easier way to search, there is nothing new here.Read Clark Howard or Dave Ramsey, people I can trust.My trust in this writer took a huge hit when she accepted an endorcement to sell new automobiles. This is at best a check out from the local library book, do not waste your money on it.

Yes you CAN be broke AND fabulous.
I live in Manhattan where it's hard to think of those two words in the same sentence.My parents have given me financial guidance books before but there is something about this that validates who you are and who you want to be- just in the title, that made me respond to it.I am clueless about money and I hate thinking about it. But you have to.This book, along with the online component,was kind of like a financial Mary Poppins.She tells you what to do and how to do it- in a non-condescending way.I wish I had had it 10 years ago.If you are a young woman with money problems like I am, don't question- just buy it and do what she says.

And it's ADD friendly too!
After reading several sections from a friend's copy, I know for a fact that this is the book on finances I've been waiting for.If you have trouble focusing and end up drifting into space before making it through a sentance in any book- let alone one about dreary finances- I think you'll be wanting your own copy of this title as well.As if she had the ADD personality in mind, Susie is direct and to the point without being crass.The book is also highlighted with coloring which is another ADD friendly technique, along with short summeries to sum up the already to the point chapters.She also gives very simplistic examples behind her reasonings to make sure even the most clueless college co-ed or financing novice can understand it, but she breaks things down in a way that doesn't make you feel like a dumb-ass for not understanding it earlier.The PERFECT gift for a highschool graduate who's about to embark on to the world of college loans and credit! And great for anyone who wishes there was such a thing as financing 101 in H.S. or College.Highly Recommended.

Awesome book especially for new college grads
This should be your first financial book in your twenties. I could find so many answers to the questions that I had as I will be graduating soon and start my own career along with investments. Although I am not in huge debt, this book has helped me so much in terms of finding out what I have to do in order to save and what I need to do in order to succeed financially in life. Highly recommended for anyone who's broke or not broke but wants to stay financially stable and happy. ... Read more

Book Description

A step-by-step program for making big plans that create big money in real estate

With a little help from Gary Keller, anyone can achieve financial independence. In The Millionaire Real Estate Investor, Keller shows you how, with the right plan and persistent effort over time, you can amass fabulous wealth in one of the strongest and safest investment vehicles around--real estate. The plan begins by establishing a state of mind that becomes a different way of looking at the world and evolves into an exciting way of life.

Through inspiration and solid instruction, Keller helps you develop a thorough knowledge of the best models for investing, along with a fundamental understanding of money, how it can be made and how it can be lost. Then, he shows you how to design an investment business that lets you get out of the day-to-day work and enjoy the freedom and benefits of what you have created.

Thoroughly researched with interviews and insights from more than 100 millionaire real estate investors who have struck it rich through Keller's concepts and practices, this book shows you how to:

• Think Like a Million: Develop the mind-set and financial strategies of a millionaire investor
• Buy a Million: Amass a real estate portfolio with a market value of a million dollars or more
• Own a Million: Turn investments into an asset-based business with ever-increasing net worth
• Receive a Million: Build an investment empire that provides a million dollars a year in passive income

Amazon.com

The advice and concepts outlined in Automatic Wealth are best suited for those in their 30s-50s who recognize that their current job will never afford them true financial independence. Rather than encourage readers to quit their day jobs today and launch into a new scheme tomorrow, Masterson shows how to turn your skills and experience into significantly more money within seven to fifteen years. For those just getting by, he details how to get the biggest pay raises now and how to move into more lucrative ventures in the near future. For those with some savings, he offers specific advice on building equity and increasing net worth significantly and quickly. Since Masterson made his millions starting and developing small businesses, he encourages people to become entrepreneurs themselves and discusses which kinds of ventures to invest in and which ones to avoid. He also stresses the importance of developing multiple income streams, offering chapters on real estate, stocks and bonds, consulting, direct mail, and other opportunities.

In addition to concrete steps, Masterson also writes about attitude and expectations. His first step, in fact, is to take an honest and realistic assessment of your current financial situation and prepare yourself to change habits. He stresses that you must make getting rich a priority and devote the necessary time to it--act immediately and don't wait until the perfect moment to change your situation (hint: the perfect moment rarely arrives.). Clearly written and filled with informative anecdotes and examples, Automatic Wealth will not make you a millionaire overnight. It could, however, make you one in a decade, and that's a timeline most people can deal with. --Shawn Carkonen ... Read more

Reviews (23)

I wish I had read this in high school
I think there are two very realistic points made in this book where most financial planning books go into fantasy-land. First, you have to earn over $100,000 a year or your savings will never add up to anything meaningful in your lifetime (compound interest doesn't kick-in big until after 40 years). Next, the difference between the rich and everyone else is customers. If you don't have customers of some kind, it is unlikely that you'll retire early with $2 million in the bank earning interest.

Unlike most money books, Michael details how to move forward on most fronts. But he seems to spend too many pages on a few subjects that he doesn't seem to know a lot about (like stock investing).

Overall, it is worth recommending.

A GREAT BOOK FOR WOMEN WHO WANT TO SUCCEED
Remember learning this phrase in school? "Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." Of course you do. Benjamin Franklin lived by this mantra, and so does Michael Masterson.

I've been an avid reader of the author's daily ETR newsletter, and I can tell you, he's one of the most persuasive writers I've ever read. I certainly would never have picked up a book with a title like this, but I bought it because I've learned to trust Masterson's judgment. Day after day, his words make sense and move readers to action.

His book is extremely helpful for women, especially mothers who step out of the work force to focus on raising their families a few years. Masterson believes it's not years and years of so-so experience that make a person successful; it's acquiring a needed set of skills, learning to excel in those skills, and having integrity.

Ladies, this is a book you can carry around in your purse and read anytime you have a minute. It's filled with powerful stories that energize you and show you that success comes to those who don't give up. Masterson's not afraid to share his failures and what he learned from them, and we can all glean from his "Ready, Fire, Aim" experiences.

Here's a list of THE TOP TEN THINGS YOU WON'T HEAR MICHAEL MASTERSON SAY:

1. The main characteristic of successful people is that they enjoy sleeping in late.
2. Watching a few hours of TV every night is a great way to spend your time (year after year after year...).
3. If you don't like your present job or income, stick it out andspend the rest of your time entertaining yourself.
4. Complaining is the best way to get what you want.
5. The quickest way to become successful is to close yourself off from the world and work alone.
6. It's best to surround yourself with people who are pessimists.
7. If you're not financially independent by the time you're 40, it's too late. You'll never make it.
8. Don't bother saying thank you to people who help you. They're too busy to notice anyway.
9. When you make new friends, it's okay to let go of your old ones.
10. Busy, successful people don't have time to read fiction or exercise.

All this to say, thanks for taking the time to write this book, Mr. Masterson. The wisest man who ever lived had this to say, "Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper" (Proverbs 13:4 NLT). I'm sure you're there with him.

Simple Advice You Can USE...from wealthy "Uncle Michael"
Are you SICK of reading financial advice books written with so much analysis, jargon, and formal posturing...you can't figure out what the heck you're actually supposed to DO?Me, too!

That's why I LOVED this book. It's like your super-wealthy Uncle sits down and tells you how he made his fortune...and how you can make yours, too.Simple, practical, straight-from-the-shoulder advice you can USE, no matter where you are in life right now.

Quite simply, the best, most practical, easiest-to-understand book of financial advice I've ever read.Do yourself a favor and buy it now!

Solid Advice on Building Wealth
Masterson, a self-made millionaire, puts forth a logical approach for building wealth.He believes that a person, who is willing to put in the effort and time, can amass wealth in a period of 7 to 15 years.I think that timing is a bit optimistic, but even if it takes 20 to 25 years, the end result is still the same - financial independence, more freedom and tranquility. Masterson believes one's primary goal is to accumulate enough capital to generate passive income to pay for life's necessities.

This 271-page book is divided into only six detailed chapters.Each one explains one of the six steps to achieving wealth, which are:
1. Face the facts - you won't get rich saving 10% or more in your pension plan or getting measly salary increases.
2. Plan to become wealthy - This is occurs one step at a time and requires planning.
3. Develop specific wealthy habits - work hard, good a what they do, are extraordinary savers, pay themselves first
4. Radically increase your income - to the tune of 25% to 150%
5. Get rich while you sleep - by receiving passive income
6. Retire early - to live the lifestyle you want

Masterson provides specific examples of each of his six steps, as well as personal experiences and appropriate stories.It all seems very real and makes a lot of sense. He mentions that an individual has to make getting rich a priority and be willing to focus his/her energies on building wealth.He also covers the need to have a detailed short-term and long-term written action plan with specific goals.

The author suggests that everyone choose specific lifetime goals; calculate their retirement income needs based upon an analysis of assets and liabilities, and lifestyle requirements.He then recommends that individuals prepare wealth building goals, health goals, personal relationship goals, and personal growth and development goals. These goals should be set for daily, weekly, and monthly timeframes.He is a strong believer in time management and suggests managing time in 15-minute increments so that multiple goals can be worked on during the day.

Masterson believes that real estate can provide significant income and spends time covering how to invest in real estate and what the income should look like.Although he does mention investing in the stock market, he only invests 2% of his money in it. He is reluctant to plunk down a chunk of his money in stocks because they are too risky for him.Obviously, looking back the stock market's devastation during 2000-2002 and the real estate market's appreciation during that time period, his advice seems right on the mark.

He feels the stock market is a very difficult place to make money, and that investors should tread lightly there. For those who invest, he strongly urges them to cut losses at a specific level (25% for him), and use stop loss orders and trailing stops to protect profits.He does not recommend investing in the market unless you have at least $100,000 to invest.

He is a strong believer in investing a sizable portion of income in side businesses and local real estate to build wealth over time. He prefers investing in income generating real estate, buying rental properties, and buying fixed income investments - holding bonds to maturity to avoid any principal losses due to rising interest rates.

Overall, Masterson does a masterful job of explaining the steps necessary to accrue wealth and enjoy life.For those who believe that investing in the stock market is a critical element in the process, as I do, I recommend a newly published book by Paul Merriman titled "Live it Up without Outliving Your Money" which provides a conservative way to build a highly diversified portfolio that has outperformed the market with less risk.

Presents a good way one could get wealthy
I found this book slightly disappointing, having read so many 5 star raving reviews of it.It is a worthwhile read, for sure.To me, the book was more of a "how I succeeded" book than I was expecting.He is very specific in recommending those things that have done well for him.He offers many strategies for making more money doing specific types of (high paying) jobs, investing in real estate, and starting or financing small businesses. There is good advice in there, and I think it is worth reading for that, since Mr. Masterson is very successful, and whose example to follow but someone successful?

The book's pitfalls to me center around specific investing advice.For instance, he recommends not investing much in the stock market because of its volatility, and talks about how much he likes investing in bonds, since if you hold them to completion you know what you are getting.This is true, but does not consider the effects of inflation, which makes that steady income worth less (whereas stock valuations and dividends tend to keep up with inflation).This is a perfect example where you have to realize he is telling you what has worked for him, but may not be the best advice for many (although I agree with him the stock market is currently overvalued).He also seems to contradict himself when he uses the stock market's historical average of 10% returns to claim you need a net worth of 10 times your living expenses to retire (or 12 times if you're more conservative).In one breath he is poo-pooing the stock market as an investment, then using its average returns in his retirement calculations.

I also wish he didn't refer to real estate investing as "flipping" real estate.All the advice he gives about real estate is sound, explaining rents need to be able to cover your mortgage payments, and that today we're in a housing bubble (here in San Diego it's a bubble bath!).Then later he estimates an average ROI of 25% from real estate investing.Again, after inflation is taken into account, I doubt this to be an accurate figure (even taking into account the leverage involved) in today's already-too-pricey environment.Personally, I believe there will be many people losing a lot of money (read: bankruptcy) in real estate over the next five years.I kind of wish Mr. Masterson hadn't used the term "flipping" houses, as I expect it to be a term that in five years will be looked back on with regret and disbelief, just like "day-trading" is today five years after the Nasdaq crash.

I've spent a lot of time here explaining my negative comments.I do think he has presented a good way one could get wealthy - one that has been proven, which is even better.So I would say read intently his wealth building strategies, but double-check the math on your own.
... Read more

Book Description

The complete toolkit for pre-foreclosure investing

Finding, researching, inspecting, negotiating, buying, and reselling pre-foreclosure properties is a lot of hard work. But it can be very lucrative for investors who know what they’re doing, are well organized, and have the persistence it takes to succeed. The Pre-Foreclosure Property Investor’s Kit is a comprehensive resource full of ready-to-use worksheets, letters, checklists, notices, forms, and agreements. With step-by-step instructions and practical, no-nonsense advice, readers will learn how to find great pre-foreclosure deals, perform due diligence on target properties, accurately estimate the market value of properties, negotiate effectively, and maximize profits.

Thomas J. Lucier (Tampa, FL) has been a real estate investor since 1980. He is a widely published real estate expert whose advice has appeared in such publications as the Wall Street Journal and Commercial Real Estate Investment magazine. ... Read more

Book Description

Real estate financial calculations made easy

Every real estate investor needs to know how to calculate cash flow, long-term gain, net operating income, and a few other basic financial formulas. What Every Real Estate Investor Needs to Know About Cash Flow . . . is a guide to the 34 most essential calculations that answer such crucial questions as "What is this building really worth today?" "What kind of cash flow can I expect?" "Is this property a good investment?" and "How do I calculate my return?" For beginning investors, real estate veterans, commercial brokers, and sellers as well as buyers, this handy reference is a must-have for anyone who wants to make sound decisions based on accurate calculations of:

• Discounted cash flow
• Cash-on-cash return
• Net operating income
• Capitalization rate
• Gross rent multiplier
• Net present value
• Payback period
• Mortgage amortization
• And many more

Reviews (7)

The Investors Bible
Everyone wants to retire on real estate but no one shows you how to, today. Frank G does; he shows you what to look for when evaluating a prospective property and what financial analysis to do to see if it will even produce enough income to carry itself. Franks book is a great start and will give you all the basics to develop a cash flow from real property for your entire life. You need to buy this book to be successful investing in real estate.

Finally a helpful real estate finance book!
This book gives the facts about real estate finance in an easy to read format. Unlike most real estate books, this one does not claim to make you $1,000,000 in 2 weeks with your eyes closed. It gives the common investor the tools and perspective to make wise real estate investment decisions. Good for beginners or seasoned vets who want to brush up on their skills.

Required Reading for Real Estate Investors
Before you invest $1 into income-producing real estate, be sure to pick up a copy of Frank Gallinelli's excellent book, What Every Real Estate Investor Needs to Know About Cash Flow...And 36 Other Key Financial Measures: Guidelines, Formulas, and Rules of Thumb for Making Money in Real Estate. While the title may sound somewhat forbidding, the book is so well-written and accessible that even novice investors who wouldn't know a cap rate from a rate of return can quickly and easily master key concepts such as present value, gross scheduled income and discounted cash flow. Better yet, Gallinelli offers free spreadsheets that you can download from his site that do the numbers-crunching for you. I like to think that I'm a pretty savvy investor, but, thanks to Frank and his amazing formulas, I narrowly avoided overpaying for a five-story office building in the Chelsea section of Manhattan. While there's no guarantee that the seller will accept my lower offer, I feel confident that, if I do get the deal, I will be paying a fair price now that Frank has taught me how to do the math.

Outstanding detail with a straightforward explanation.
This book is the best read for understanding financial analysis. It is not often, if ever achieved, that a subject as complex as financial analysis can be explained so perfectly suited for real estate professionals. The work doesn't lose itself in silly analysis or "paralysis of analysis", Gallinelli's approach is straightforward, sometimes hard hitting as a practical sense guide to investing in real estate. This doesn't mean the work is simplistic by any measure, you can spend plenty of time taking this work into great depth. Gallinelli offers a web page support system with free worksheet downloads, financial software and valuable resource links. Every deal I consider is now held to a new financial standard. This is a must own book for investors, brokers and corporate real estate professionals.

Excellent Investment Companion
This book focuses on analyzing Real Estate Investment from a financial calculation perspective. It is very well written, very easy to understand, and extremely useful. In a very short time, you will quickly learn the 37 calculations that a sophisticated Real Estate Investor uses to evaluate whether a deal makes financial sense. By knowing the numbers better, you'll have an edge in negotiating your next real estate deal. Highly Recommend! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Sequels often disappoint when compared to their predecessors, but author Robert Shiller has proved the exception to the rule with his second edition of Irrational Exuberance. When the original book released in 2000, Shiller's prescient analysis of bubble-like market behavior provided perspective on the painful meltdown of stock-price valuations that subsequently occurred. Five years later, the Yale professor's bearish predictions about real-estate valuations are enough to give any savvy investor or homebuyer pause.

Shiller is one of several well-known economists and pundits who've begun a running dialogue in the last few years around the drawbacks of unchecked free markets. Few writers, though, dissect the phenomenon of bubble behavior as clearly and thoroughly as Shiller does. As with the first edition of his book, Shiller begins this one with reams of quantitative data around the late 1990s stock-market runup. This new edition adds data on real-estate price trends in the early 2000s, and points out the striking parallels between the earlier stock-market boom and bust, and current trends with housing prices in the United States. Shiller actually believes the two phenomena are related; as investors lost confidence in the stock market and moved their money into real estate, one asset class fell while the other rose. According to Shiller's analysis, the pattern is destined to repeat itself.

Aside from the initial data, the real strength of Irrational Exuberance is the straightforward, almost clinical way in which it explains why things happen as they do. The book walks readers through structural reasons for market bubbles, then ventures into "softer" analyses which professional economists less confident than Shiller would be scared to touch. It examines cultural factors behind market bubbles, such as hype-mongering news media, and psychological factors, such as herd behavior.

Another improvement in this latest edition of Shiller's book is his inclusion of more personal commentary, and he mentions the influence that his wife, herself a clinical psychologist, has had on his intellectual development and his view of psychological impacts on economic behavior. Other personal insights from Shiller center on experiences he had while touring and lecturing around the first book, and some of the most interesting passages are those in which he describes common questions or feedback from his audience, and what he thought in reaction--but didn't voice while on his tour.

In the end, Shiller closes his book with an intriguing set of policy proposals. He argues for a revamping of the U.S. social security system, a new system of house-price insurance for homeowners, and risk reduction through portfolio diversification. Fans of the brainy academic will note with approval that Shiller practices what he preaches: he has begun trying to implement some of his ideas in the real world through two private consulting firms he has founded, Macro Securities Research and Macro Financial. The hope is if Shiller's as correct with this second book as he was with his first, readers will all learn something from these new companies. --Peter Han ... Read more

Reviews (62)

Antidote to Stocks for the Long Run
Shiller explains why the incredible 225% increase in the Dow Jones Industrial Average from the beginning of 1994 through the end of 1999 was unsustainable: "as a rule and on average, years with low price-earnings ratios have been followed by high returns, and years with high price-earnings ratios have been followed by low or negative returns." Writing in 2000 when the price-earnings ratio on the S&P500 was nearly 45, compared to a long-run average of about 20, Shiller was preparing us for a bursting of the stock-price bubble. His message was sobering and prescient then as well as good education now. Caution: the reader will have to whack through thickets of details in Chapter 1 such as "The average real return in the stock market (including dividends) was -2.6% a year for the five years following January 1966, -1.8% a year for the next ten years, -0.5% a year for the next fifteen years, and 1.9% a year for the next twenty years."
In Part 3: Psychological Factors, Shiller outlines principles of behavioral finance. For example, past prices and stories help form people's views of the stock market. He reviews classic experiments in psychology, which documented the significance of peer pressure and trust in experts. Shiller's interpretation is that people take uncritically what experts on the stock market offer, presumably that stock prices will continue to rise, which encourages them to be overconfident.
The author puts forth a good explanation of efficient markets theory but applies much criticism. He proclaims: "I see no reason to doubt the thesis that smarter people will, in the long run, tend to do better at investing." Reading and understanding Irrational Exuberance will help put the individual investor in the company of those "smarter people."

I'm puzzled by the y-axis choices in Figure 1.1 (page 6).
I work in statistical data analysis, and I opened this book with high expectations.But then on page 6 I encountered Figure 1.1, titled "Stock Prices and Earnings, 1871-2000", which has a visual design that troubles me.Both lines on the graph are plotted with the same x axis (the years from 1860 to 2020), and I have no problem with that.The Stock Price line is plotted against a y axis that is labeled along the left-hand edge of the graph, and the range chosen for this axis (0 to 1600) seems quite appropriate for the data plotted, which range from about 70 to about 1450.The Stock Earnings line is plotted against its own y axis that is labeled along the right-hand edge of the graph, and I have no problem with the existence of the second y axis.But what troubles me is that the range of this second y axis has been chosen so that the entire range of the data plotted in the earnings line (about 5 to about 40) has been squished into the very bottom of the graph, using a vertical distance that corresponds roughly to the range from 2 to 190 on the y axis for Stock Price.This apparently arbitrary visual juxtaposition of two unrelated y-axis scales leaves me unable to trust any visual trend comparisons I might be tempted to make between the two lines.Can someone explain to me why one of these three alternatives that make more sense to me wasn't chosen?(1) Plot both the Stock Price and the Stock Earnings on the same y-axis scale (from 0 to 1600), or (2) plot the Stock Price on its own y axis as shown but plot the Earnings Price on a y axis that runs from 0 at the bottom of the graph's right-hand edge to about 45 on the graph's right-hand edge, or (3) normalize both graphs to percentages of their values for some year (1871, perhaps).Thanks.Any comments from Edward Tufte ("The Visual Display of Quantitative Information") would be most welcome indeed.

decent, but somewhat disappointing
For those haven't read other behavioral econ articles / books, this is probably worthwhile.However, though the first two articles are well written and informative, the remainder of the book is mostly ponderous unsupported assertions and innuendo.It's nothing new to those who've read a bit about this stuff before.

Regarding the "updated for the real estate bubble" claims:The real estate information is not very well integrated - it looks like it was opportunistically inserted.Ironically, it looks like Shiller and his publishers are trying to "time the market" - rushing a book to market hoping to "catch the top" of another asset class cycle and thus get two data points showing him to be a guru of bubbles.(In addition, his mention of Prop 13 in California is superficial and not informative.)

It also appears at many places that writing has not been updated at all since the first edition.It can make for some confusing reading at times.

Maybe he doesn't want to give away lots of data he's accumulated, but it would be helpful to evaluate his assertions.Without it most of the book does not rise above well informed discussion over a few beers.

indepth analysis on market behavior
In a welcome second edition of the book, Shiller sets up his main theses using the real estate "bubble" (or if you prefer, "boom") example.The first part of the book focuses on a historical analysis of the "bubble" scenarios and uses the recent real estate phenomenon to explain the context of his arguments. He systematically argues against all the reasons cited for the real estate boom (population, construction costs, etc.) In the second part, he focuses on causes for these speculative behaviors of investors and their changing perceptions on risk. His classification of factors into precipitating and amplifying groups is an interesting approach.He then proceeds to explain cultural, political and psychological factors to reason why he thinks investors behave in a "speculative" mode. His attack on the cable TV news media and their "noisy" coverage of business news is an amusing and thought-provoking read.

Any serious investor for the long term (and short term) will find the insights on market behavior very useful in analysing his/her own behavior. The efficient market theory, "greater fool" theory, etc. will also need a more critical look after reading Shiller's comments.

This thought provoking book is an excellent read along with Jeremy Siegel's (one of the authors friends/advisors) book which takes a much more positive perspective on market trends and more importantly, market behavior.

While the strength of the arguments will keep the reader interested, the book is no easy week-end read. It needs to be read in a slow pace to absorb the gravity of the arguments. But that shouldnt deter a serious investor. A must have.

Market psychology with a political ending
This is a chronicle of inverstor perceptions and expectations of themarket both in the late '90s and in other periods, particularly the roaring '20s.Pretty boring stuff.More psychology than finance.

The reason I gave this book one star is that in the final part of the book Shiller makes an political statement that is unrelated to the book's thesis.He campaigns against investing even part of Social Security funds in the stock market.He urges us to reaffirm our group responsibility to the elderly instead.It sounds like something the AARP would have said.

In other parts of the book he talks about what demographic or generational trends may mean for the market or the public perception of the market.When he turns to social security he doesn't mention demographics, however.Of course, demographic trends portend bankruptcy for Social Security as it is currently structured.It's intellectually dishonest to talk about demographics and generational differences in other contexts but omit those factors when it comes to social security.

If he had left out this political lobbying he would have a boring but well researched book.He pulled a bait and switch at the end that detracts from the rest of the book. ... Read more

Book Description

"Personal-finance author and lecturer Robert T. Kiyosaki developed his unique economic perspective from two very different influences--his two fathers.One father (Robert's real father) was a highly educated man, but fiscally poor.The other father was the father of Robert's best friend--the Dad who was an eighth grade dropout who became a self-made multi-millionaire.The lifelong monetary problems experienced by his "poor dad" pounded home the counterpoint communicated by his "rich dad."Taking that message to heart, Kiyosaki was able to retore at 47.RICH DAD, POOR DAD, written with consultant and CPA Sharon L. Lechter lays out Kiyosaki's philosophy behind his relationship with money.RICH DAD, POOR DAD opens readers eyes by:

- exploding the myth that you need to earn a high income to be rich
- challenging the belief that your house is an asset
- defining once and for all an asset versus a liability
- explaining what kids need to know about money for their future financial success" ... Read more

Reviews (1475)

Eye opener !
I am a 35 y/o computer person. As I grew up, my parents told me to go to school and become an engineer, or an accountant, so that I could have lots of money. I grew up thinking it would happen, and my belief got stronger when I chose a profitable computer carreer. However, I spent 15 years working on computers, with many over-time hours, and lots of time away from friends and family because I was learning newer technologies to try to make more money.

However, I never got rich, I made good money but I was never able to accumulate more than $5,000 on my bank account. I never understood why after working so hard, money was still a big concern! I figured out that there's gotta be another way to become wealthy. I gave it my best shot at studying and working hard, and years went by and things didn't get better.

I started looking for information on wealth accumulation books, and a friend of mind recommended this book. This book has been very enlighting, I wish I had learned the principles shown in here 15 years ago. If I had, I know for a fact that money would not be a big concern for me today. I feel much better now because, even though I don't have lots of money (not yet), this book pointed me in the right direction.

I also recommend "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill. It goes deep into detail about what to put in your mind if you want to become wealthy.

I hope my review helps.

This book is an eye opener to all of those who desire money.
I have read both 'Rich Dad, Poor Dad' and 'Cashflow Quadrant.' Being young and still in college, these two books have taught me how the rich think. As Kiyosaki emphasizes, getting a high paying job after college is not the answer to becoming financially indepent and satisfied. His books unteach the reader everything he/she has learned about money and allows the reader to focus on building wealth the way millionaires do. His books are enlightening, and his method to achieving wealth makes sense logically. After reading 'Millionaire Next Door', I could honestly tell that Kiyosaki's method is the way the truly rich think. 'Millionaire Next Door' simply focuses on frugality and spending as little money as possible. Who wants to enjoy all of their money when they become 60 yeas of age, having spent their prime years living as cheap as possible? Kiyosaki's book is excellent in teaching the common man/woman how to have money work for them and allows them to live life to their fullest. I recommend this book and 'Cashflow Quadrant' as the first two readings for someone seeking financial independence.

Powerful, life changing program
A few months ago, I was working in sales for a B>B Business Group. I followed Mr. Kiyosaki's advice and started investing my money in passive income. I bought some equities, a rental or two and started a home based business.

While my colleagues spent their checks and worked for ThankGodItsFriday and cheer for Wednesdays because it was "hump day" and yell hooray for the weekend, and then made wise cracks about my goals. I invested, left that company over 6 weeks ago and am now full time in my own business. Meanwhile, my colleagues were recently served notice that their company (my former company) is laying off 150 people!

Thank God for Robert Kiyosaki.

Can't communicate to save theirselves
Easy read-18 minutes & spelling and grammer errors are throughout. Plus, pure money making "Dribble". Follow this & you LOOSE!

A book on how to think like the rich do
This book is about strategy, not tactics. Here you will start to learn how the rich think. This book changed my life as it was the first book of my new life! It's not going to teach you the exact tactics the rich use (try the new van tharp's book for that) but more importante it will teach you the thinking behind what they do. Don't mind the bad reviews: it worked for me. ... Read more

Book Description

Published since 1992, and updated annually, this 148 page textbook was written as an answer to the "sink-or-swim" training methods of many mortgage firms. The format is designed to give the newly initiated loan officer/agent, lender, processor, or other initiate the practical information they need to do the loan officer's job.

The reader learns how to understand rate and point quotes, how to use a financial calculator, how to make basic computations customers require, how to understand loan programs and compare product features. The student progresses through understanding loan specifications - Conventional Conforming/Jumbo/FHA/VA and Sub-Prime program guidelines - to a practical understanding of ratios, income, assets and closing costs, debts and credit history. This is then placed in the context of the loan application - how to collect all the required documents and disclosures and supervise a loan from application to closing. Beyond the basics, students learn how to finance various property types; condos, PUDs, new construction and investment property. A detailed chapter on refinancing addresses the issues which most often confront the loan officer in a period of heavy refinancing - 10 reasons to refinance. Finally, understanding how loans are made in the secondary market and the basics of interest rate quoting and behavior are covered.

This product is being submitted for approval for use in continuing education in all states which have, or are adopting, a requirement. Many companies use this product as a handout to prospective new loan officers. Many loan officers give this product to their referral sources to help educate them to the requirements of the industry. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

I use it as a textbook for my college class
I am writing this review in response to the concerns of one reviewer who didn't like the $55 price. This is the first review I have ever written on amazon.com, or anywhere else for that matter. I had a choice of many other books to use as a textbook for the class I teach at Montgomery College on mortgage loan origination, and I chose this one. At first, I, a stingy Yankee, was taken aback by the $55 price, and concerned for my students who have to deal with high textbook prices, but when I examined the book I was amazed at how much there was in it, information not available in such form anywhere else. There were a few other manuals and texts that I could have chosen for the class, including some that were hundreds of pages long, but they were full of fluff and consisted simply of compiled information. They were four pounds of hamburger; this book is 12 ounces of filet mignon. It is is focused, focused, focused on providing information mortgage loan originators actually need. It has helped my students start lucrative careers and has helped me teach a very popular course; I even use it when I teach private classes for some of the biggest mortgage lenders in the nation. I have been a mortgage loan originator since 1988 and I have never seen such a valuable book. I was amazed - even embarrassed - at how much I learned about the business, even after 15+ years originating loans. With information, its not the price, it's the value, and this book is incredibly valuable. There are four pages in the book that I require my students to copy and keep with them; these pages alone are worth hundreds of dollars, and contain on four pages information that is spread across hundreds of pages of industry publications. I encourage anyone considering the business, and even anyone in the business already, to buy this book. Feel free to call me at home at 301-563-6225 and I will be happy to discuss the book - that is how strongly I feel about it's value. Not one of my hundreds of students has ever been anything less than enthusiastic about the book. I even discuss the price of the book at the beginning of the first class, and tell the students that I thought, at first, that it was too high. Then, I encourage them to evaluate it over the course of the class, and tell me if they think it is overpriced. Not one of them has EVER told me so, nor has anyone in the mortgage business ever told me so. If it were up to me, this book would be required reading for every mortgage loan originator in the country. If mortgage loan originators read this book and absorbed the information in it, this would be a much easier business to be in for everyone involved. It has been approved by a number of states for the instruction of mortgage loan originators, as well as numerous community colleges. Sorry to ramble on like this and sound like a shill for the book, but as an originator and an instructor I wanted to address the cost issue. Some people know the price of everything and the value of nothing. Ignore the price here, and look at the value. Do that, and I believe you, too, will see what I am talking about.

THE most comprehensive Loan officer training book in print!
Thomas Morgan's The Loan Officer's Practical Guide to Residential Finance is THE most comprehensive loan officer training book in print today. Chock full of every single aspect of the mortgage origination process, I truly recommend this book to every amateur as well as novice loan officer I know!

Great information
I have been a senior executive in the mortgage business for over 25 years and I would recommend this book to anyone considering the business. I found this book to contain in a concise and organized manner all the information a new or seasoned Loan Officer would need to be successful in the mortgage origination business. I advise any manager to consider providing a copy to each of their originators.

It is a goob book, but too expensive for what it is
This book is a very good tool for new loan officers. It is a good book, but you can find the same information in other books that are more reasonabaly priced. I would have given it a higher rating, if it was priced below [money]. It was just disappointing to receive such a thin book in the mail for [money]. ... Read more

Book Description

"This is the best of the how-to-invest-in-real-estate books currently available."
–Robert Bruss, syndicated columnist and real estate author

THE BESTSELLING GUIDE TO REAL ESTATE INVESTING

Now in its fourth edition, Investing in Real Estate is the straightforward guide that helps you start growing your fortune by investing in houses and small apartment buildings. Successful real estate investors Andrew McLean and Gary Eldred show you how you can outperform the stock market by investing in residential real estate–the surest and safest way to build assets.

This new edition offers an expanded discussion of the best methods and techniques for fixing and flipping properties and creating value. You’ ll also find all the information you need to start investing now, as well as up-to-date tips on maintaining cash flow, negotiating deals, spotting market trends, and using the Internet as a research tool to find and buy properties. Let McLean and Eldred show you how to:

• Buy with little or no money down
• Minimize taxes while building your wealth
• Choose neighborhoods and properties that will beat the market with faster rates of appreciation
• Grow value in your properties by investing in improvements
• Pick the best way to finance your purchases

Whether you need money for your child’s college tuition, a more comfortable retirement, or just a higher standard of living, Investing in Real Estate, Fourth Edition is the only guide you need to start building wealth now. ... Read more

Reviews (76)

Helpful For Everyone
You're not just buying a book to read here. The amount of information in "Investing In Real Estate" makes it an investment. These are the facts. The way things are. There has been spiked interest in RE recently because of the recent low interest rates which has caused an upsurge home-buying in many parts of the country. With all of the real estate courses, seminars, tapes and books being marketed, how rare is it today to hear the facts and not just the hyperbole? This is the most comprehensive and detailed, to-the-point real estate book available.

If you're a normal home owner and want to increase your home's value with some shrewd fixing-up before you sell it, you can get tons of pointers here. Want to find the best bargain with your first purchase or your new home? Manage your property(ies)?
What criteria do you use to find the best property? How do you check to make sure? Creative financing is also covered.

This is not just for those investing in apartments or a duplex but everyone. Want to rent-out your house? You will learn the basic laws and procedures, and how to write up the most appropriate lease and how to cross your "T's" and dot your "I's." Almost all of us know people who've rented their homes out and had "bad tenants." You'll learn how to screen properly here to avoid them, and how you can use the (local) law.

There are many simple and proven math models on how to calculate the return you'll get from buying a detached house, condo, duplex, tri, fourplex, or multi-unit apartment complex. The Gross Rent Muliplyer (GRM), Income Capitalization "Caps," Net Operating Income (NOI), Return on Investment (ROI), and Before Tax Cash Flow (BTCF) etc. Add these simple equations and formulas to the fact that you likely live in the community (familiar with) you'll be buying/investing in, and you'll have the best chance to earn some positive Cash Flow, and choose the best option available. Ways to evaluate neighborhoods and areas that are up-and-coming, paying less taxes, and using depreciation and deductions properly are also covered. Very important for homebuyers and owners yes, but this is the most comprehensive book written for people who are looking to purchase property to plan ahead.

Good solid book
Among all of the books on real estate investing, this one gives you the best solid introduction. Once you decide the exact strategy you wish to pursue, you will want more specialized detail (like on renovations). I also liked the authors' approach in that they tell you how to really analyze your local market to develop ideas that will likely yield the best profits. I detest books that lay out step by step the author's suppossed "secrets to success"--when in fact that strategy might not work in a different place or time. ( One book I read told me to only buy 3-BR, 2-BTH, brick houses. We don't even have brick houses here!)

Outstanding coverage
Six rental houses, one quad, and one mobile home. I'm still accumulating and I'm still absorbing as much knowledge as I can. In that respect, I heartily recommend this book. Good details, excellent examples on creating value, sound explanation of calculating returns without burying me in a algebraic fog. The chapter on leases opened my mind to many points I hadn't even thought of. Overall thorough and practical approach.

Not Bad, a little too basic and too much cheerleading.
This book was one of the first "bestseller" types of books I have read on real estate investing, and I was fairly disappointed. This book would make a good first book for an aspiring real estate investor to hear about some of the more unconventional means of getting into real estate investing, but over all the book was short on details and potential pitfalls and very big on a "You can do it!" tone that made me wonder if the author was trying to sell me an ego boost as opposed to a fair, balanced, and sober look at investing in real estate. If you already understand the fundamentals of real estate investing and are familiar with foreclosures and other more aggressive sources of finding potential properties, you should pass on this book. If you know nothing, and are just looking for an idea of what this field is all about, I would cautiously recommend this book with the caveat that its not easy, there are some restless nights sometimes, and anything that sounds too good to be true, is.

Deals with important issues and provides insight
I have been investing in real estate for 10 years and read as much as I can on markets and strategies. This book is refreshing. I gained new insights and am eager to get out there and find some new properties. ... Read more

Book Description

Take your real estate career to the highest level!

"Whether you are just getting started or a veteran in the business, The Millionaire Real Estate Agent is the step-by-step handbook for seeking excellence in your profession and in your life."
--Mark Victor Hansen, cocreator, #1 New York Times bestselling series Chicken Soup for the Soul

"This book presents a new paradigm for real estate and should be required reading for real estate professionals everywhere."
--Robert T. Kiyosaki, New York Times bestselling author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad

The Millionaire Real Estate Agent explains:

• Three concepts that drive production
• Economic, organizational, and lead generation models that are the foundations of any high-achiever's business
• How to "Earn a Million," "Net a Million," and "Receive a Million" in annual income

Reviews (34)

Never has there been such a manual for success!
This is a system, simple, and direct! Gary Keller has gone to the core of real estate and what it takes to succeed. This book can be used as a step-by-step guide to making any amount of money you wish! His use of real life millionaire agents is inspiring, invigorating, and fascinating. This is a must read for real estate agents and non-agents alike. A job well done goes out to the brilliant authors of this work!

IF IT IS TO BE WHY NOT ME? Or even YOU
This book has changed my way of thinking. Gary Keller and Dave Jenks do a remarkable job of mapping out the path to netting over a million dollars. I am currently reading this book for the second time and I plan on reading it ten more times. Our team has made some serious changes after reading this book and we are seeing the benefits and how easy it can be accomplished. Remember we are all in the Lead Generating Business. I wish you all the success after you follow the MILLIONAIRE REAL ESTATE AGENT Book.

Made My First Year In Real Estate a Huge Success!
I found this book on Amazon when I was just starting out in Real Estate. I read many of the how-to books because I wanted and needed to hit the ground running in my new career. This book, by far, was the most information-packed and practical guide to starting a real estate business. (By the way, another excellent book is "How to Become a Power Agent in Real Estate" by Darryl Davis).

I am an attorney and before starting my real estate career, I had my own law practice; and before that, I had my own computer consulting company-both successful ventures. I approached real estate from a businessperson's perspective and this book difinitely speaks to the serious businessperson. There are so many books and articles telling new agents where to spend their time and money that by the time the agent figures out what works and what doesn't, they have spent their entire budget and an entire year, and have not made enough money to move on. That's why 70% of new agents drop out of the field by the end of their second year.

This book helps agents, new and seasoned, stay focused on the bottom line. Moreover, it answered the most important question for me--If I need to generate $80,000 in income per year (salary, not gross commissions), what activities do I need to do and how much will it cost me?

So many of the other books and articles claimed to have the winning formula by telling you that you must knock on 50 doors per week and make 50 cold calls per week to generate business. Their theory is that it must be painful if you are to be successful.

This book, however, gives you lists of ideas and says if you do "x" number of activities from this list, you can expect to receive "x" number of transactions per year. YOU get to pick which activities you perform (if you don't like knocking on doors, pick another activity--it does not have to be painful for you to be successful).

The other books tell you that you must know a lot of people--friends and family--and that you MUST call and hound them in order to get business. This book, alternatively, says that if you do not know a lot of people (if you are new to an area) or if you don't want to call your friends and family and beg for business, you don't have to. It gives you the formulas so that you can determine how much marketing you have to do with the "people I haven't met yet" group to generate the same results as you would have with your "friends and family" group.

Using this book as a business modeling guide, I closed just under $3 million in volume in my first year; and just over $7 million my second year. I already broke through the $6 million volume cap that many seasoned agents hit as a glass ceiling and cannot move beyond. My broker with my first real estate company (Long & Foster) was hostile to my business model because she didn't understand it and because I was taking control of my own career. She wanted me to follow her formula and she wanted me completely dependent on her for my success (even though she never provided me with leads).

Then Keller Williams came to Maryland! (Gary Keller, the author, founded Keller Williams to empower real estate agents to run their own successful businesses). I joined Keller Williams and now I am surrounded by agents and brokers who realize that the business is mine and that the broker's role is to support my success. They do not believe, like so many other companies, that the agent's role is to make the broker rich. This is obvious by the fact that they offer one of the highest commission splits in the industry, without charging a monthly "desk fee," and they share the profits with their agents! And their entire culture is based on the "Millionaire Real Estate Agent" business models.

If you are serious about approaching real estate as a business, you must read this book.

Millionaire Real Estate Agent
Great book! The ink is still wet on my license, 3 closings so far. Wanted to get focused on my business and Gary Keller gave me good insight and information that will make me a better agent. Good tips too!

The truth about how to succeed in Real Estate Sales
After 15 years of being a student of high volume real estate sales, this book brings it back to the basics in a way anyone can grab a hold of and succeed. This should be a required read for anyone thinking of entering the business, newer to the business or seasoned veterans wanted to discover how to go to the next level for themselves. The tools are spelled out in a way that makes sense, brings ethics into the conversation and proves that one can succeed utilizing these tools. ... Read more

Book Description

Written with humor and insight, 21 Things I Wish My Broker Had Told Me provides hands on advice that will help agents start, or maintain, a sucessful career in real estate.This has real life stories from dozens of sucessful, top producing, real estate professionals will help new agents know what to expect and how to succeed.(186 pages, 2003 copyright) ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Outstanding, and brutally honest
I am a liccensed CA Real Estate Broker. I ordered the book after I had read a positive review about the book from newspaper real estate columnist/investor/attorney, Robert Bruss. Bruss has never steered me wrong, and I highly respect his opinions.
This book is the MOST straightforward, no BS, book I have read yet about any aspect of the business. I tip my hat to the author, who himself is a real estate columnist, for digging up the information... The truths are universal in this business (which is scary/weird), but I feel that anyone who is starting out in this business MUST read this book so you know what to expect, as I cannot think of any other business that chews up and spits out people so quickly. I imagine some will buy it looking for a way to riches, which this book is NOT about. It is about understanding how the business really works and what to expect, thereby giving one an edge against any disappointment and discouragement a "green" agent will surely feel in the first 18 months of this business. The dropout rate is high, and I think the author offers much encouragement. There has been so much stuff written about selling real estate, and all the "pump up" stuff to keep one motivated, but this book is not about that at all. This book would make an excellent gift to anyone who just passed their Real Estate test and is willing to take the plunge into a business where, quite frankly, every day that you wake up, you are seeking work! After reading it, you won't feel so distraught at the bumpy road which lies ahead.
I'm sure even seasoned vets of the business would appreciate it, and may find themselves chuckling to themselves as they are reminded of the many hard lessons that were learned -and there will be many- as the book points out, or perhaps I should say, the book says "Look Out!"
I read it in one evening, as it entertains the reader as well. Well done, Mr. Cook, and thank you for approaching a subject that I think few have touched upon. Your organization of the subject matter seems well thought out.
The one underlying theme which he displays in various interviews with Realtors is one must certainly rely on hard work, rather than luck (we all know the stories about stepping out for a $4.95 sandwich, only to lose a $20,000 commission to the one agent who answered the phone), to make it. Plus, thank you for mentioning that this is a misunderstood profession, in the eyes of the public, and calling upon all agents to act professionally, and putting the client's needs before our own.
Buy it, read it, and good luck to all the new agents out there. Office managers: make this required reading for new agents and you'll save yourself a lot of hand holdiing...

Would recommend this book to a starting out agent
This is a great book. It gives you a bunch of information you would otherwise not find out until after your first year in the business. It gives you a bunch of associations to be aware of that you can join, things you can do to promote your business. I finished it in one sitting, and am planning to read it again. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone in their first year of real estate. Will save you a lot of time on doing things that don't matter. Focus on results.

The only one
This is the first book you should read if considering entering into real estate. Some of the personal stories are scarey yet true, but are important to face before entering a new career.
A lot of other books are "rah, rah, you can do it" hype. This is one book that speaks about the sucesses and failures from a personal perspective. I have now read it twice once for pleasure and once to take notes! This book really does speak of the things your broker will never tell you.

good book
must have book for new agents. I would recommend this book and also "The idiot's guide to Success as a real estate agent" by Marilyn Sullivan which is another super book for new agents.

You have heard it all before!!
This book is attractive due to the title, however, it was a great disappointment. Everything in the book are things that a typical broker would tell you. All of the examples and advice are very general, except for one or two good points. What I found particularly interesting is the author's take on "fair housing" issues. The author, who is obviously not a minority, gives the advice that "one should walk away" if someone made a comment regarding letting a "minority" move into a property you are selling. That is true..However, what if you as the Real Estate Agent (and not the client) happens to be Black (or Hispanic or Jewish)?<-THIS IS HOW IT IS IN THE BOOK
There are more ways to view an issue. Maybe he should have consulted an agent that happens to belong to the Black (or Hispanic or Jewish) population for assistance with this topic. ... Read more