Book Description

"Everything you need to know to make millions by investing in real estate. Be smart -- take advantage of their invaluable experience to help you reach your financial goals."--Jack Canfield, Co-author, The Power of Focus, Dare to Win, and the Chicken Soup for the Soul(R) series.

A proven formula for making a killing in small real estate investments in all market conditions

Millionaire real estate investor Mike Summey and nationally recognized negotiation expert Roger Dawson team up to offer a complete program for becoming a real estate magnate in your spare time. Unlike all the get-rich-quick real estate investment guides on the shelves, The Weekend Millionaire shows readers how to look beyond price to the fundamentals of what makes a property valuable and to leverage that value in order to build wealth, consistently, over years. It also teaches them an original, win-win negotiating strategy in which the buyer determines the terms of the purchase and lets the seller determine the price.

Readers get clear, step-by-step guidance on how to:

• Find great investment properties
• Approach sellers
• Structure a win-win proposal
• Get a proposal accepted--even with no money down and bad credit
• Negotiate a transaction
• Manage and maintain properties for increasing returns

Reviews (27)

Why did it take so long?
I've read dozens of books on real estate investing and to be honest, I've found most of them either over my head or just plain unbelievable. When I heard Mike Summey talking about the book on the Real Estate and You show on WYCA-FM, I had to check it out. Finally, I've found a book that explains real estate investing in simple language and breaks it down into such doable tasks that I can't wait to get started. I loved the stories that illustrate how to apply the techniques the authors teach. Not only do they tell you what to do and how to do it, but they go the extra mile and use real life stories to show you how to achieve successful win/win negotiations that benefit everyone. If you don't buy another real estate book, buy this one. It's a keeper! You may also want to check out the website listed in the book. It's www.weekendmillionaire.com and it's a great resource for real estate investors.

Fantastic read
As a beginner to real estate investing, I have been trying to absorb as much information as possible. This is the 4th book I have read on investing, and it is by far the best. The book does not promise overnight succes, but it does show you how to slowly build assests, and create a stream of income that you can live off of over a period of time. They give stories that they describe as not being typical, but they do help you stay motivated. They also provide easy to follow examples, and charts. I have noticed alot of people who have rated this book poorly seem to have too large of an ego to admit they learned something from someone else. Dont let the negative reviews sway you. If you only have limited time, and only want to read one book, make it this one. The title couldnt be more accurate.

Simply the Best.
This book truly covers all aspects of real estate in a very useful, educational manner. The concepts are as timeless as they are valuable. I've read it three times, and I'm constantly referencing it fir information... a MUST READ!

Weekend Millionaire's Secrets to Investing in Real Estate
It is the best book on real estate investing that I have read in the nine years I've been in business as a real estate investor. I enjoyed the down to earth format that both Mike and Roger used to get their points across. The five chapters on "negotiations" by Roger is an expert negotiator and Mike has a sense of humor as a southern gentleman and a no nonsense approach to investing in real estate as "buy and hold" strategy. I highly endorsed the book to all of my students whom I am mentoring presently. You can't go wrong by reading the book and asking questions on the chat room at www.weekendmillionaire.com to both Mike and Roger. Looking forward to their new book when it comes out!!!

Very good real estate book-priceless information
I have to laugh at reviews where on reviewer wrote "Mike did this and Mike did that. Wouldn't you want to be like Mike?" Since the title of the book is The Weekend Millionaire's Secret's to Investing in Real Estate co authored by Mike Summey, I would think that anyone who bought the book would indeed like to be just like Mike. After all, he is a millionaire and achieved his success in real estate. Why not be like Mike. Sure beats being like that one star reviewer who even came back and voted 47 times for his own review. Now that is somebody with a head trip! ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (13)

Does a bubble really exist?
The main problem with this book is that the author believes the housing market will crash and so therefore it is not an objective look at the residential real estate market. As a result, I did not find it helpful. I live in Southern California. The housing market crashed in the early 1990s not because of interest rates or overbuilding but because of a severe recession. The California economy was still in recession while the rest of the country improved. This drove many people out of the state, which of course led to more supply of housing than demand. Housing dropped approximately 40%. However, anyone who held onto their home made that 40% and more back in less than a decade. A previous reviewer claimed that San Diego's population and housing have increased at the same rate, yet there has been a 110% increase in prices. This simply is not possible. Housing is based on supply and demand. Housing simply won't go up in value if there is little or no demand.

It is estimated that only 80% of the necessary housing is being built to accommodate the large numbers of people moving into Southern California. For every 3 jobs created in Orange County, California only one housing unit is built. This has driven many OC workers into homes in surrounding areas like Long Beach and Riverside, which has driven prices up in these areas. Many building companies are wary of overbuilding so they are constraining supply. Local governments make more money from commercial real estate, so they have had strong incentives to provide more permits for commercial rather than residential real estate, which has contributed to current housing shortages. An increase in interest rates may temporarily dampen the housing market but as more people enter the rental markets already sky-high rents will go higher driving even more people back into the housing market. I don't see any decline in Southern California housing for a long time. As a result, I don't believe that there will be a housing bust anytime soon to benefit from.

Real estate is local, so you can't judge what may happen in Illinois based on what is happening in Arkansas, which is why I am only discussing my local market. The rule of thumb is that housing increases an average of 6% a year. Some housing markets can go into decline and remain in decline for years. However, these are generally areas that are/were dependent on one industry or one company as an employer. This book is interesting in many respects but I don't feel that his premise applies where I live.

Perfect Timing
The whole "How to Profit" thing is a little overdone
these days, but this book's timing is good enough to
make up for the unoriginal title. Here in California,
real estate is clearly a bubble, and Rubino does a
good job of laying out the causes and consequences.
Then he fits the housing bubble into the big picture
which, if he's right, is absolutely terrifying. In a
nutshell, we've been borrowing like crazy for the past
twenty years, and now we're eating our home equity.
Pretty soon we'll run out of wiggle room and the whole
system will crumble. People who borrowed to the max on
overvalued houses will go bankrupt and the companies
that are inflating the housing bubble will crash. And
the east and west coasts, where home prices are
highest, will have the hardest time. All things
considered, it's a tightly-reasoned, well-written,
very scary argument.

One tip for readers: You can skip the "Housing
history" section (it's interesting but not necessary
to understanding today's housing bubble) and go
straight to the second section, where Rubino explains
how the housing bubble happened and why it's going to
pop.

Not a great treatment, but there isn't much alternative
SUMMARY:

If you are just looking at this thread for the first time, and are the general "layperson" most of us are, I suggest you might want to read the first half (125 pages) to get a relatively complete and coherent high level discussion of the possibility a bubble exists. After you do that there are lots of web resources that have more detailed & up to date facts & arguements. It's a pretty easy read -- too easy, if anything, it does not go nearly far enough in depth for my tastes (but then again I am a systems analyst by profession). I personally think this book is mostly worthless, indeed possibly even dangerous in its advice, for the purposes the title claims (how to make money on the bubble popping), but the description of the arguments to for trying to do so are a bit better.

DETAILS:

The first half of the book (which another reviewer suggests you could skip -- !!!) is actually the most useful IMO. It gives a general summary of the reasons that sugggest current housing prices are unsustainable. The arguments are not very complexly constructed, but I don't fault the book for it, I think it has a target audience, and that is the general public, not the subset who have a firm grasp of macroeconomics & math. My biggest gripe with this part of the book is that he expresses some facts in a misleading way, to my mathematically semi-sophisticated eye. For example, on p. 62 he has a graph of total US debt and GDP vs. a 45 year time axis. To the "untrained eye" (and he supports this impression in his text), it looks like debt is growing much faster than gdp. This impression is created by the fact that both are under $5trillion in 1957, and by 2002 gdp is $10t and debt around $34t. However, I suspect if you graphed the RATIO of debt to GDP (which is really the issue, what multiple of gdp is debt, i.e. very roughly, how many years of earnings collectively would it take to pay off collctive debt), you will see the ratio MUCH higher at the start of the period than now, you'd probably see a decline in the graph slope for many years, then maybe an increase starting around 1985, based upon an eyeball evaluation of the two curves. That would have been a MUCH more meaningful graph, a more useful historical perspective. Maybe he thought that too abstract for his intended audience, being a derivative of the data (change over time in the rate of change of the ratio), but in this particular case I believe he has made more out of those historical numbers than is really warranted. The problem for me is, when you see that once, you start to trust less all the rest of the arguments he makes, you instead find yourself wondering "what did he leave out or misrepresent this time?" But with that caveat, I repeat that this is still the best overall attemtpt to make a case for a housing bubble, with the possible exception of a "Special Survey" done by the magazine Economist on 5/29/2003, which looks at the issue from an international perspective.

The last 1/2 of the book (the ostensible purpose, "how to make (or save) your money when the bubble bursts") seems even less well thought out. I'm not a professional investor, but I have been doing it a couple decades now & I came out of reading this book with very few viable (IMO) ideas on how to achieve what the title promises. For example, buying cash rich companies -- he lists msft, csco, intl, dell, nok. This advice is totally bereft of the context of stock price or p/e, and I'm sorry, a dollar is worth a dollar, and you can't say a company with cash is a good buy without even referencing how much cash you will pay for that cash!!! the suggestion of convertible bonds is also curious, I admit I have not looked at them much in my years, but my intuitive reaction is, won't these only do better than normal bonds as the stock price INCREASES (i.e. as it approaches the conversion price?) these bonds pay a lower rate & make up for that with the option to convert to shares at a fixed stock price. The value of that conversion option drops with the stock price (indeed for convertibles close to strike price, stock price changes are MAGNIFIED in the convertible pricing). And regarding gold pricing -- I actually have one raw gold producer that he mentions on my watch list right now, they are a major player in many other metals markets as well (copper, silver, etc). Having that POV, I can tell you that he has totally ignored the whole question of decreased industrial demand that would come with the kind of financial catastrophe he envisions, very relevant given the exposure this particular stock has to these other metal productions. Heck that is the reason that I am still on the sidelines, reduction of demand in china (which is creeping up in the news more in recent weeks as they attempt to engineer a "soft landing" to a badly overheated economy) could totally take the floor out from underneath a lot of these companies.

Finally, while by no means suggesting this is a fair way to evaluate his advice in this second half of the book -- since the whole argument is predicated on the collapse of the housing market, which has not (yet) happened -- it should be noted that a quick review of many of his suggested strategies shows that anyone following his advice in the one year approx since he finished writing it (he mentions this being the beginning of June 2003) would have vastly underperformed the market, or even lost money, in the interim.

So, in short, I find the first half the book (is there a bubble, why) a pretty good introduction to the argument for it, not perfect, but perhaps the best one out there. I find the other half (what will happen to the economy when it bursts, how to profit/protect yourself from it) very much unsatisfying, and I am stuck where I started, thinking "I think there is a serious risk here" but still unable to figur out how to translate this concern into concrete action for my own personal finances.

Worth a read
If the names Stephen Roach, Marc Faber, Bill Bonner, Bob Prechter, or Jim Puplava are familiar to the reader, then John Rubino's well written, easily digestible, and quite convincing summary of the bear case (not just in real estate, but also in the US equity market) should be old news. However, if these names are unfamiliar, the reader would do well to plunk down the money to buy this book, consider his argument, and give some thought to preparing for possible bad times should they occur.

Rubino spends the first part of the book laying out a case for why a bubble exists in the real estate markets, and then uses the second part of the book to explain possible strategies to protect assets and even profit. The hedging strategies are well organized, but I doubt most people would consider shorting housing/fannie/freddie stock or buying gold/silver bullion. It would also be unrealistic to expect people to abruptly move from their overpriced houses in California/Boston, leaving friends, families and schools behind. The asset protection strategies could have been more detailed (in the same vein as the books by Martin Weiss). Rubino could have made his real estate bubble case stronger by using more local market information, statistics, and graphs (a la John Talbott in his highly recommended book The Coming Crash in the Housing Market).

Overall, this book would prove valuable for people unfamiliar with the risks in the economy and the possible outcomes if this risk ever manifests itself in the economy and the markets.

This reviewer cannot help but add as an aside that given the current conditions (early 2004) in the United States of unhealthy financial asset and real estate valuations, burgeoning debt and its financing by foreign nations with their own unpredictable agendas, high budget and trade deficits, and wage pressure brought on by globalization, it might not be a bad idea for the reader to recognize that the potential downside risk may be much greater than any potential upside, and act accordingly when planning for their financial future.

Outstanding!
I never thought I'd say this about a finance book, but I couldn't put this one down. It is fascinating, logical, concise, well-written, and occasionally quite funny. Despite the catchy title, it is about more than just the regional housing bubbles we are experiencing right now: it is a primer on the entire lending industry and how badly it's gotten out of hand.

Just to be clear about it, this is not a "doom and gloom" or "the sky is falling"-type book. There are no histrionics to be found here, only well-researched facts and common sense presented in a very reasoned manner. Whether you own real estate or are thinking of eventually buying, and whether or not you are convinced that some housing markets are overpriced, this book will give you the background and advice you need to protect your assets and possibly even to profit enormously.

I have to comment on one of the other reviews here, by "A reader from San Diego, Ca," which implies that Rubino ignores the laws of supply and demand. This is an unfair accusation because it cites bad data: as a matter of fact, San Diego's home supply has increased at exactly the same rate as its population growth. They have both increased by 7% in the past 5 years. In the same time period, San Diego home prices have increased by 110%. The person who posted that review is clearly more interested in rhetoric than in facts but I wanted to set the record straight. ... Read more

Book Description

A complete preparation guide for the AMP Real Estate Exam, the book and enclosed CD-ROM contain over 700 practice questions, with rationales included for every question.Content throughout the book is aligned with the new AMP content outline.Thirty new broker practice questions have been added to the book.

This is the LATEST and most COMPREHENSIVE tool available to help students prepare for the AMP Real Estate Exam.Features topics related to, and in the order of, the latest AMP Examination Content Outline.With more questions and answers than any other AMP guide on the market, it features over 700 AMP-style questions, with rationales to help schools and students improve pass rates.A new CD-ROM has been packaged with this edition, containing 50 new salesperson and 50 new broker practice questions. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Very good book for study review.
I would recommend this book for anyone that is taking the AMP test. All material is laid out very well and it goes over just about everything.

Your Guide to Passing the Amp Real Estate Exam
Is a very good book, is comprensible and good ordered. ... Read more

Book Description

From abandonment to zoning, and over 2,800 terms in between, The Language of Real Estate has every term that real estate professionals need.this industry best seller is a must have for all students, practitioners, and educators.Highlights include:
* Appendix boasts over 350 commonly used abbreviations.
* Subject classification index lists terms by topic.
* Spanish key terms help both ESL students and those who will be working with ESL customers. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Excellent book- but I did not like the "bi-lingual" edition
I have this book - as well as the previous edition (4th edition).
This one came with my real estate class.

It is an excellent and very informative book.

However- many terms in the book have the Spanish word next to it.

Examples:
appraiser (valuador, tasador)
counteroffer (contraoferta)
deed (escritura)
fee simple (pleno dominio)
joint venture (asociacion, en participacion, contrato de asociacion, en participacion)
mortgagor (deudor hipotecario)
.......Etc.........

In the back of the book in Appendix D is a Spanish-English dictionary.

I did not want a bilingual real estate book.

The previous version of this book (4th edition- 1993) did not include this.

I don't know why the author- John W. Reilly- or Dearborn Real Estate- felt it necessary to include Spanish words next to many of the real estate terms.

I want to learn real estate- in English- not in Spanish.
And I felt that to be a huge distraction.

I want to learn real estate terms in ENGLISH- not in Spanish.
I was very disappointed when I saw that.

Maybe the author should publish an English version- and a Spanish version.

I took Spanish in college- and I want to learn REAL ESTATE- not a foreign language.

It is an excellent book - and in my opinion that is it's only flaw.

Excellent Reference Book
Whether teaching or working in the real estate field, this a a wonderful reference book for all. This could be helpful for beginners in the field and also for someone that has spent a lifetime in the field.

The #1 necessary book for agent or consumer
As a real estate instructor, this is the book I bring to every classroom, regardless of the topic. It is the ideal suppliment to any real estate instruction. It's clear, concise and to the point. My students are accustomed to hearing, "Let's see what THE BOOK says." As a writer and course developer, it's always there as my reference book of choice. As a consultant, I recommend it to buyers and sellers as their first step in learning the language. This is the all around perfect book for anyone dealing with real estate in any way --- which is just about everybody!

It is reallya must for any home buyer to read rather study
This gives a complete in sight of Realtor's work & psychology and thus helps a home buyer to make a gainful decision of his life to have a roof , without being taken for a ride. ... Read more

Book Description

By giving students practice answering questions similar to those found on real estate exams, this bestselling exam guide is specifically designed for real estate students who want to pass their licensing exams on the first try.

With over 1,800 questions, including 80 item sample broker and salesperson exams and three 80 item review exams, this book is intended for individuals preparing for salesperson and broker licensing exams.It is geared toward the ASI exam, but is designed to be used to study for exams administered by any of the testing services such as: ASI, AMP, PSI, Experior (formerly NAI) and self testing states (CA, ME, MS, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, SC, WV).

Detailed explanations, in the answer key at end of each chapter, provide a rationale as to why a given answer is correct, giving students the needed information to handle any type of question on any topic.This key feature, not found in many other exam guides, makes the book equally helpful to students preparing for any type of real estate exam. ... Read more

Book Description

Fix and flip single-family houses for quick profit––and long-term prosperity

The Complete Guide to Flipping Properties offers proven, straightforward guidance for anyone interested in flipping properties for quick profits. This comprehensive guide to flipping will help any real estate investor design a detailed plan for achieving their financial goals as quickly as possible. Steve Berges, creator of the value play strategy, shows you step by step how to flip properties and lock in profits. With in-depth explanations of every aspect of the art of flipping––from finding properties and closing the deal, to repairing houses and reselling at the best price––this book is the ultimate resource for novice investors and real estate pros alike.

The Complete Guide to Flipping Properties includes:

• Time-tested strategies for flipping
• Ten proven methods for locating great properties
• Property valuation methods––and which one is right for you
• Financial analysis and modeling techniques
• How to create value and maximize your profits
• Seven steps of successful negotiation
• How to close the deal
• Foolproof exit strategies for getting rid of properties
• How to assemble a winning team of professionals
• Three keys to maximizing your potential as a real estate investor

With tips on writing business plans, investing on credit or with OPM (other people’s money), and creative financing methods, The Complete Guide to Flipping Properties gives any investor the tools they need to build wealth safely and reliably. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Excellent Financial Analysis!
I've read a half dozen or more books on flipping/rehabbing and none of the others come close to this one when it comes to financial analysis. Most authors focus on the "how to's" of flipping, which Berges does also, but he outshines all of them when it comes to analyzing real estate.

Berges walks the reader through using several examples in a financial model to help properly analyze an investment property . At the end of the analysis, if the returns are acceptable, you buy the property and if they are not, you pass on it and go on to the next one. No emotional attachments here. Buying and selling is done strictly on an analytical basis.

A lot of authors tend to focus on getting in to a deal for "nothing down" but say very little, if anything, about value. Just because you can buy a house for nothing down doesn't mean it's a good deal or that you should buy it. Out of all the real estate books I've read over the years, Berges is the only one to really emphasize value.

My guess is that Berges will lead the way among future writers by emphasizing value and financial analysis just like Robert Allen led the way with the nothing down techniques in the 80s and 90s.

Two thumbs up!

Not nearly as good as his first book
His book on flipping properties is not nearly as good as his "The Complete Guide to Buying and Selling Apartment Buildings."

I really liked his first book, and when I saw this one on the bookshelf, I picked it up without hesitation. To my dismay, this book doesn't do its job getting a REI newbie off the starting blocks, and it definitely doesn't give any additional information to the flippers who have been in the business for a while.

My advice is to skim through this one while you are at the bookstore, and then put it back on the shelf.

Excellent Guide to Flipping
I've read most all of the books on flipping and rehabbing. This book is by far the best! The author uses many examples and provides step-by-step instructions that are easy for readers to follow. He also includes an entire chapter on how to actually find these properties which was really helpful to me. I was able to use this information to locate four houses over the last month and currently have one of them under contract.

I highly recommend this book to both beginning investors and to those who are more experienced as the author seems to have a knack for writing to a wide range of audiences. Great book!

Another Great Book by Berges!
I read Berges' book The Complete Guide to Buying and Selling Apartments about a year ago or so and liked it so well I couldn't wait for him to come out with another book. His book on Flipping is every bit as good as the book on apartments. Berges provides a comprehensive and complete approach to anyone interested in buying and selling houses. He wrote about a similar topic, which he referred to as "the value play" in his apartment book. In the flipping properties book, Berges applies the value play strategy, which is to buy, add value, and sell, all in a very short period of time. The idea is to get in, get out, and make money!

Although Berges covers one of the same topics Bronchick does, he does it in a different way which gives the reader another perspective. Authors write about similar topics all the time. There's nothing wrong with this. Berges also covered several topics that Bronchick did not. No harm there either. It's pretty clear to me that judging by their writing styles and backgrounds, Berges likes the finance end of real estate while Bronchick prefers the legal end. Maybe the two should consider teaming up!

Flipping is a State of Mind not a State of Being
Go through my catalog of book reviews and this will seem wildly out of place. However, my wife really really wants to buy a house. So I've picked up a good pile of books on purchasing a home, renovating a home and ... yes ... flipping a home.

My father was in the development business when I was growing up, so I've had the opportunity to be with houses from breaking ground to opening. I think I have a good eye for potential and love the creativity of improving a space.

So, my wife really wants a show house. It's a long story, but she really does. Given that we both own our own businesses and that those businesses are pretty young, I didn't feel comfortable adding a lot to our debt load.

So I convinced her to look at some less "show housey" houses. Let's just say that it didn't go over really well.

But I come from two families of creative thinkers and I thought, "What if we treated the first house or two like investments, rather than like homes?"

One puts a lot of emotional stock in their home ... but they can be more pragmatic about an investment. The concept took a while to get through to my wife, but now she is fully on-board.
Then I started reading ... I'm reading about six books at the same time. This is the first to be finished.

Steve Berges has written a concise entry-level book on flipping properties. He gets into some of the valuation of flipping. His methodologies are simplistic and geared towards the numbers only. I don't think he fully appreciates that artistic eye that it takes to see a house that has potential versus one that merely can be fixed up.

There's a bit of rah-rah in this, which I'm finding in a lot of these real-estate books. The end chapter is mostly rah-rah in fact. But this book is very helpful in getting the interested reader focused on the subject at hand.

Indeed, none of the books I've seen thus far will give you all the answers you want. But they will help you focus. ... Read more

Book Description

Thomas Pauley and Penelope Pauley were given a key that unlocked the door to riches beyond their imagination. Now father and daughter tell their story. The simple system detailed in this book is so powerful it took their family from a second personal bankruptcy to a rich and happy life, practically overnight.

Learn:
€ How to guarantee your success
€ One amazing secret that makes millionaires out of wage earners
€ The key to an immediate, large, permanent increase in your income
€ Why too much effort produces exactly the opposite result
* and much more... ... Read more

Reviews (19)

A Real Life Manual For Getting What You Want In LIfe
I was really lucky to come across "I'm Rich Beyond My Wildest Dreams". This book clearly explains how you can attract abundance, prosperity, and great health in your life.

I have used the manifesting system described in this book to have dinner with one of the most famous personal development speakers and gurus in the world!!! I have used this system to eliminate some serious business problems, such as a really problematic business client.

I'm using this system to manifest more money and wealth in my life than I ever thought possible.

The key is to actually do the exercises that Thomas Pauley and Penelope Pauley discuss. If you want to live the life of your dreams, you cannot go wrong with this book. Buy this book today and start using it!!!

I also recommend that you get Marc Allen's "The Millionaire Course", "Goals" by Brian Tracy, and "Dynamic Laws of Prosperity" by Catherine Ponder.

Positive Thinking, Written Goals, Tithing.
If you're a veteran reader of self-help books, you'll recognize most of what you read in "Im Rich Beyond...".

The authors mix their personal story with how-to's for attaining all you desire in life.

Their message is, basically, this: use positive thinking (the affirmation "I'm Rich Beyond my Wildest Dreams" sung to a familiar tune, for example), written goals (they advise that you make lots of lists of the things you want --in 79 cent notebooks--) and Tithe.

The tithing part (along with those 79 cent notebooks) seem to be a particularly important part of the process.

Did I mention that the authors have a website where their e-books and other products are sold?

In any case, as I said, you won't find much new here. But the writing isn't too bad, and, as long as you don't buy cartons of notebooks (or spend too much time at their website), you could spend your money on worse books than this one. Thus, the three star rating.

However, for a really great book on manifesting what you want, try "Write It Down, Make It Happen." The author of that one has no website, and sells nothing else that I know of. She just outlines this system of ASKING THE UNIVERSE FOR WHAT YOU WANT in a way that contains less marketing.

Reviewer: Linda Painchaud Steinman

A Simple Formula That Works
I've read a ton of self help books. All of them offer some good advice, and they often repeat themselves. This book also contains ideas I've read before - but it takes all the new agey melodrama out of the formula. The author gives specifics about what to do to increase your money flow, and doesn't apologize for wanting to "be rich beyond his wildest dreams." I found that refreshing. He calls money what it is: something to have an awful lot of fun with, and also something God given. I was amused to read his comment that this system would work whether you believed in it or not. Well, he's not kidding! I had a "yeah - whatever!" attitude when I started. But after I tried his suggestions, my income started to increase in surprizing ways. I still refer to it often. I recommend it! And check out his website. It's also helpful.

This book works!!
I have been following this books for about 2 years now and It works...If you do what Tom Pauley says, great things will happen.

What he says in the book is right.

I gave this book to several of my friends at work. Most of them didn't bother reading it. But one did and great things are happening in her life as well.

If you believe, you can achieve! Should be one of the subtitles for this book because it does work.

If you need specifics, just ask and I will tell you what I specifically wished for and what I received!

Great Book!
I found this book to be a page-turner. I could not put this book down! Thomas Pauley is a true source of inspiration and motivation for me.

The principles in the book are timeless. They are all classic self-help stuff. But his style of writing is really unique. Phenomenal.

Another thing I really like about this book is that it is written by a person who has a strong faith in God, yet doesn't push any specific religion onto your face.

Zev Saftlas, Author of Motivation That Works: How to Get Motivated and Stay Motivated ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Missed Fortune: Dispel the Money Myth-Conceptions
I wish I had read a book like this years ago. This book change the way I think about money. I can't thank Douglas Andrew enough for sharing his insights. A must read for anyone with a mortgage!!!!

I learned quite a bit from this book
I stumbled unto this book and I only browsed the first couple of chapters while I was at the bookstore. For now, I'll write an incomplete review, because this is such a good book, I was kind of surprised it only had one anonymous Amazon review thus far.

This book, or at least the little that I've read from this book, is truly outstanding. It takes the common sense financial practices of the average financial investor/homeowner, and it tells us why they're a bad idea.

A couple of juicy tidbits:

- Overpaying on your mortgage paiment will increase the risk of losing your property.
- In a real estate downturn, bankers like to take over equity-rich properties, not equity-poor properties (it's less work for them).
- In a real estate downturn or in an emergency, it's better to have your money in a side liquid fund, than to have it tied up in your property.
- And in case your bank tries to repossess your property, you'll have more leverage against the bank and you'll have more room to maneuver if your money is out the property.

Now again, I haven't read the book fully, these are just the couple of ideas that I remember at the top of my head, but those ideas were very thought-provoking (to me at least). I intend to buy this book, read it fully, and come back here to give a better review.

Absolutely amazing
If you are in the financial services industry or even just looking to have a safe and secure retirement, you need to read this book! It is absolutely amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Book Description

This book focuses on problem-solving from managerial, consumer, and societal perspectives. It emphasizes both the business managerial aspects of risk management and insurance and the numerous consumer applications of the concept of risk management and insurance transaction.Specific chapter topics include insurance Regulation and contracts, basic property and liability insurance contracts, homeowners insurance, the personal auto policy, professional financial planning, life insurance policies, annuities, medical expense and disability insurance, standard life insurance contract provisions and options, commercial property insurance, general and special liability insurance, employee benefits, social security, and unemployment and workers' compensation insurance.For use by individuals in insurance occupations, and by those preparing for the certified financial planner board. ... Read more

Book Description

HOW TO SETTLE YOUR DEBTS, by Norman H. Perlmutter, CPA, is the book that everyone needs to prevent economic meltdown. It’s the essential, up-to-date, comprehensive and gutsy survival guide to meet this ever growing serious problem of financial ruin that faces so many of us.

In a step-by-step format it guides individuals, families and businesses through a process that will end debt and reverse insolvency without filing bankruptcy. Even if you're on the brink of financial ruin, with this book you can regain financial health and get a fresh start without committing "financial suicide".

HOW TO SETTLE YOUR DEBTS provides legitimate workable solutions to repair financial chaos. It’s written in a conversational style and organized in an outline format that promotes understanding and ease of reading for the average person. You will learn in no uncertain terms how to climb out of the hole you are in and get your financial life under control without causing irreparable damage to your future in the process.

The author is a practicing CPA and Financial Advisor who formerly owned a Debt Collection Agency. He understands the tactics of the conniving moneylenders and their debt collector enforcers and all the other scam artists who are out there waiting to rip you off. He knows how to deal with these people and how to stop them from harassing you and from ruining your credit and your reputation. Furthermore and most important, with this book he will teach you how to take control of your financial life and get out of the mess you are in.

HOW TO SETTLE YOUR DEBTS is for all those individuals, families and businesses whose debts grow deeper by the day and whose lives are being adversely affected by them. Here’s a summary of how the book will help you deal with your problems with debt:

• It will teach you the basics – what you're up against, who the predators are, how to recognize and avoid their debt traps, the fundamentals of debt, the risks you take when you don't pay, and what they can and cannot do to collect from you.

• It will help you understand your problem – by following the steps outlined you will be able to expose, examine and evaluate your dilemma with debt, how it's affecting your life and the options you have to deal with it.

• You will learn to know your enemy – what makes creditors and bill collectors tick, what motivates them, what their weaknesses are, how you can exploit them and how they are vulnerable to attack.

• It will show you how to keep the wolves at bay – by creating doubt as to the validity and the collectability of your debts and by using "Dirty Tricks" and Counter Attack Techniques to frustrate and discourage creditors and bill collectors.

• It will teach you about your rights and how to take advantage of them – federal and state laws enacted to protect you from abuse and to punish bill collectors who violate them.

• You will learn how to negotiate a debt settlement plan – using basic negotiating skills and built in leverage to set up an advantageous arrangement with your creditors to workout and settle your debts.

• How to use the "Golden Rules of Debtsmenship" - to protect your assets and your privacy and to safeguard credit, and where necessary, how to repair credit and rebuild it.

• How to deal with lawyers – to negotiate debt settlements, contest lawsuits and protect your assets from judgment levies.

• How to settle secured debts and tax debts – by recognizing and seizing upon opportunities to settle or otherwise favorably resolve these debts that creditors have more power to collect.

• How to settle business debts – by understanding the differences that must be considered when negotiating workouts and settlements with business creditors.

• Where to get help if you need it - and how to watch out for all the scam artists who are out there waiting to take advantage of you.

• It’s a reference manual as well as a guide – with its outline format and comprehensive index the book can be used to easily and quickly obtain information on any of the many subjects covered relating to debt and debt relief.

HOW TO SETTLE YOUR DEBTS ~ Without Committing Financial Suicide ~ shows you how to end debt and reverse insolvency without resorting to the self-defeating and demeaning ordeal of filing bankruptcy. It provides you with all the knowledge, the techniques and insight required to successfully accomplish this. ... Read more

Book Description

Olmos/Jacobus' quick-reference dictionary provides nearly 2,000 terms in BOTH English and Spanish covering all the essential areas for real estate.Comprehensive coverage, easy-to-find definitions, simple explanations, terminology used on licensing examinations, and numerous illustrations make this a handy reference tool.This up-to-date bi-lingual dictionary is a ?must have? for practicing real estate agents, licensees and consumers. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Complete, concise and understandable
I am not a law student, but I want to feel secure in the legal aspects of my activities as a real estate investor. This book provides exactly that. It is easy to understand and very well organized. It may be missing a few examples for some complex points, but in general is a great book for anybody who want to really know the ins and outs of real estate law. ... Read more

Book Description

One of the hottest trends in real estate is the development of town centers and urban villages that include a mix of uses in a pedestrian friendly setting. This new book will help you navigate the unique development issues and options and show you how to make all of the elements work together. You will learn about the economic and social forces driving this trend; how these projects are being developed in master planned communities, infill, and redevelopment areas; special regulatory, market and finance issues; and how suburban planners and developers are pursuing town center concepts to create attractive gathering places for their communities. Illustrat-ed in full color, the book includes case studies and examples that describe how leading professionals met the challenges and developed innovative and successful projects. ... Read more

Book Description

Through savvy investing and the basic principles of entrepreneurship, experienced and novice investors alike can find financial freedom in real estate investments.Global real estate expert Russ Whitney provides an easy to read, comprehensive look at both traditional and creative methods of real estate investment.

In Millionaire Real Estate Mentor: The Secrets to Financial Freedom through Real Estate, Whitney discusses when to purchase property, describes details to research, and introduces the pros and cons of various types of real estate, investing, and financing.He encourages his readers not to be intimidated by real estate investments but to educate themselves, set goals and stick to them.The publication is the ultimate reference guide for all real estate investors, experienced and novice, to financial freedom. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

GO FOR THE RICHES with Millionaire Real Estate Mentor
I have been a real estate broker and real estate investor for over 30 years. I have read a tremendous number of "HOW TO' books on real estate investing. Russ Whitney's Millionaire Real Estate Mentor is a masterpiece for beginners as well as experienced real estate investors. It covers it all, from Creating a Power Team, Wholesale Buying, Purchase Options, Preforeclosures and Foreclosures, Mobile Homes, Rehabbing, Commercial Real Estate and a whole lot more, including Powerful Wealth Building tips.Written in a style easy to read and understand. Go for the Riches with this book!!

Everything You need to know tomake $$ in real estate
This book is the most comprehensive book on real estate I've ever read. I've been to many courses, and have read other books, but this one offers advice on everything you could imagine when it comes to buying, investing in,maintaining, and selling real estate. It's not a "get rich quick" book. And that's a good thing. Russ explains that you need to surround yourself with a wealth team to advise you and guide you (especially if you're new at this) so you make the best decisions. If you're serious about making money in Real Estate, I'd advise buying this book!

Why does Amazon keep deleting the one star reviews?
You should always take any Amazon "rating" and subtract about 2 stars since they delete the unfavorable reviews and let the authors write many 5 star reviews under different names and post them.

This is the third or fourth reveiw I've written for this book. It is esentially a collection of late night TV commercials so save your money. You might also do an internet search on the author's name before buying.

Not for beginners
If you enjoy watching get-rich-quick late night TV, by all means, buy this book. For the rest of the real investers, go do a Google search on the author's name. Spend a few minute researching before spending your money. I did the research and brought the book anyway, because I want to see what Whitney has to say. It turns out a lot better than I had expected. I think he copied a little here and there from other books.

I would not recommand this book to beginners, because they don't know enough to know what they don't know, and this book only teaches and motivates readers enough to get them into trouble.

The Only Real Estate Book I Have Seen That Is Not Crud
I have always been a real estate sceptic (at least a sceptic) but I have to admit I like this book. The testimonials are a nice touch and some make sense for me. I am primarily a stock market investor. That is what I know and understand best-it is my specialty. I have alway had an interest in real estate but I really did not understand how to go about it. This book provides some very usable techniques for the newcomer. Also techniques for avoiding losing money are presented throughout the book. I only have two complaints but they are not really about just this book. First, there is no section that deals with the risks of real estate investing in an explicit way. This is a peeve of mine with both stock investing and real estate investing. The tone shall we say is upbeat and devil take the hindmost. There is no crime in explicitly discussing risk and I do not understand why people do not do this when they write books about real estate and stocks. Nevertheless this book contains much more information on how not to lose money than virtually any other book on real estate I have seen. Second, I wonder about the level of research and exposure in the real estate arena. In stocks the vast majority of profit is made at the market level with the complete curve being gaussian. I wonder if the same is true in real estate or if there are real opportunities to "beat the market" in real estate. But these are advanced questions that reading this book got me thinking about and that is good. This is the first real estate book I have read which could convince me to participate. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (225)

Great book--Great foreward by Melvin Powers
Over the years I have bought several copies of Think and Grow Rich but this particular edition, original unabridged version is perhaps the best and my personal favorite.

Think and Grow Rich is without a doubt one of the most prestigious and beloved books in the field of motivational literature. This version is a reprint of the original, unabridged, classic edition of Think and Grow Rich by Napolean Hill. No doubt, Think and Grow Rich has helped shape the lives of millions of people around the world. Perhaps moreso than any other book ever.

In Think and Grow Rich, Napolean Hill shares his brilliant philosophy and practical techniques for achieving your financial goals, reaching your highest potential, and ultimately creating a life that brings you great personal happiness.

Think and Grow Rich will teach you how to harness the awesome mental magic of your mind. You are given a blueprint for self mastery. You learn that there are no limitations to what you can accomplish, only those you impose on yourself.

Napolean Hill said, "If you can conceive it, you can believe it." This precept has proven true repeatedly throughout history. Did we not send a man to the moon and accomplish other seemingly miraculous feats in many fields of endeavor? Every one of these feats began as an idea that was then transformed into reality. Think and Grow Rich shows youhow to transform your dreams into reality too.

Melvin Powers inspiring foreward and indicating how this great book transformed his life adds just on more great testimonial of the power behind Think and Grow Rich.

If you were to buy just one book on personal development, you wouldn't go wrong by making Think and Grow Rich that one and only book.

Thank you Napolean for sharing your wisdom!

Bugaboos of the Mind Revealed
Why do some achieve great wealth when the vast majority wallow in poverty?

Napoleon Hill interviewed nearly 500 wealthy men (including steel magnate Andrew Carnegie) to determine the underlying causes of wealth. In addition, Hill interviewed thousands of financial failures to determine what drove them to poverty.

Think & Grow Rich is a remarkable text that outlines what Napoleon Hill learned from his vast number of interviews. Hill enables readers to emulate the traits of the wealthy while shunning those characteristics of the financially challenged.

Several highlights of the text are:

(1) Prerequisites to wealth acquisition include a statement of: (a) the amount of money desired (b) the sacrifice one is willing to give in exchange for the money (c) the deadline for obtaining the money (d) a definite plan for acquiring this money (e) a declaration of this statement twice daily once before sleeping and once after waking.

Hill remarks, "You may as well know, right here, that you can never have riches in great quantities unless you can work yourself into a white heat of desire for money, and actually believe you possess it."

(2) The subconscious mind can be a powerful ally (or foe) in the pursuit of wealth. One should truly believe that one will become wealthy and "the subconscious mind will hand over the plan that you need". This belief should be infused with emotion.

(3) Create a Master Mind group of encouraging individuals who can provide the specialized knowledge necessary to achieve wealth

(4) "Success requires no explanations; Failure permits no alibis"

(5) Common causes of failures include: Lack a well defined purpose in life, Lack of ambition, Lack of self-discipline, Procrastination, Lack of Persistence, Lack of decision.

(6) Persistence is absolutely critical to wealth. Hill mentions that "I had the happy privilege of analyzing both Mr. Edison and Mr. Ford ... I found no quality save persistence that even remotely suggested the major source of their stupendous achievements."

(7) To develop persistence one must have a: (a) specific goal with a yearning for its attainment (b) definite plan (c) mind closed against negative influences (d) friendly alliance with those who will encourage one to achieve the goal

(8) Sublimate your sexual urges to a yearning to accomplish your goals

(9) "You have absolute control over but one thing, and that is your thoughts"

This is a remarkable book that is a paean to the power of the mind and its ability to create wealth in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles ...

Excellent! but the hardcover version is abridged
Wonderful book, which inspires me and makes me think big and stay motivated. I love the unabridged version from wilshire book company. Unfortunately it comes only in paperback. I recently bought the hardcover, collector's edition. Unfortunately it is abridged, in some chapters several pages in total. The format in this book is among the best i've seen though. Leatherbound, goldedges etc. Anyway, great book!

It Helped Jim Carrey, myself and it can help you too...
What can I say? I bought this book at a church bookstore, ironic huh? Having been fortunate enough to attend elite academic institutions in America and Europe, I can say without a doubt that the principles espoused by Mr. Hill's writing are by far more valuable than much of what I learned in a formal academic environment--this is real education....SELF education, i.e. knowledge of Self.

Jim Carrey reputedly read this book while working a low wage job before becoming famous, applied the fundamentals and the rest, as we say is history.

I always like to point out interesting teaching points from books and here are a few:

**"Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve"

**"There are no limitations to the mind EXCEPT those we acknowledge"

**"Both poverty and riches are the offspring oof thought"

One of my greatest ambitions is to actualize the level of success I envision for myself and in doing so, be in a position where I can mentor others about the principles of success such as those. Mssr. Hill teaches. One of the first things I shall do is give this book away in order to complete the cycle of giving and receiving.

I also recommend reading this book along side Joseph Murphy's book "Power of Your Subconscious Mind" and Claude M. Bristol's "The Magic of Believing" along with "It Works" by RJH. These books along with Think & Grow Rich can truly enable you to achieve whatever you desire not only financially but in health, relationships, peace of mind and true expression--true wealth.

I have personally achieved some wonderful results through the application of these principles and look forward to applying them even further for higher and higher levels of achievement. I hope you do so as well!

Not his best, but a great book by Napolean Hill
Think & Grow Rich is a condensed version of Hill's 17 principles of success; he course that he used to teach in over 17 lessons via weekly lectures and is still available in other books and tape programs like Your Right To Be Rich.

Nonetheless, Think & Grow Rich is an excellent intro to the principles and techniques that Hill discovered after interviewing the wealthiest people of his time.

Think & Grow Rich will open your mind and open opportunities to you. Great book by Hill. ... Read more

Book Description

Praise for Coach Yourself to Success

"Knowing how to make money and hold onto your money has never been easy.Joe's strategies are clear, accessible, and performance based.Joe, thanks for taking the mystery out of investing."
—Maria Bartiromo, host and managing editor of the nationally syndicated program the Wall Street Journal Report with Maria Bartiromo and CNBC's Closing Bell.

"Leave it to Joe to look out for the rest of us Joes and Joannes. Practical. Useful. Meaningful. The man who democratized trading has now leveled the playing field."
—Neil Cavuto, Vice President of FOX News Channel, host of Your World with Neil Cavuto and author of the New York Times bestseller, More than Money

"Joe Moglia has provided a coach's playbook for everyone. This is an invaluable tool for executing the right investing moves to win the game!"
—Bill Bolster, former CEO CNBC, CNBC Intl.

"If there is a parallel between football and investing, it is that to be successful you have to stick to the fundamentals. 'Coach' Joe Moglia lays out the fundamentals for you in a concise, straightforward manner. Read it and win."
—Vince Lombardi, Jr.

"Coach Joe Moglia knows the game and knows it well. His clearly written book is indispensable for the novice and great fun for the knowledgeable."
—Bob Kerrey, President, New School University

"As the president of Ameritrade, Joe Moglia revolutionized online trading, making individual investors successful as never before. In Coach Yourself to Success, Moglia's insights give individual investors a new and powerful tool to achieve their financial objectives."
—Roger McNamee, cofounder of Elevation Partners, Silver Lake Partners, and Integral Capital Partners, and author of The New Normal ... Read more

Book Description

Modern Real Estate Practice in New York, 8th Edition is the latest update of the book that educates more New York real estate students than all of its competition combined.The book contains the material necessary for both salesperson and broker students.Some distinguishing features/benefits:
* Margin notes to help students find key topics andcrucial material.
* An expanded math section to give students a betteropportunity to ensure that their skills are ready for the real world.
* More than 625 review questions.
* Both salesperson and supplemental broker level chapters And more! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

This is the Standard Class Reference for NY DOS Class
I am in the middle of New York's prerequisite course for the Dept. of State exam. In searching for an acceptable school I became aware that hands down all the schools I engaged used Edith Lank's Mod R E Practices in NY (8th ed.) as the classroom text.

As far as it's readability, it is indeed a textbook, and reads that way. Pertinent areas are of the text are in a light blue to punctuate their importance ( I think I would have used red myself). These areas have mostly coincided with what the teacher asks you to highlight as important Exam points. Also, there are questions at the end of each chapter to reinforce the points of the chapter. A reasonable amount of time is spent on basic math concepts (algebra and geometry) if you paid attention in High School you can glean this chapter. The general topics include:

Deeds
Mortgages
Basic Finance
Liens
Easements
Laws of Agency
Contracts
Closings
Estates and Interests

Some of the students in the class complained that it uses too much legalese and reads like a Law book. Although this is not a law book per se, it deals with laws and statutes, regulations, interpretations of law, etc. So it should be a little more legalese than other types of reading.

There were a few typos in the main text as well as the Q/A sections. The book reads well enough to prompt me to purchase Lank's Test Prep guide as well, although I do not have it yet After taking the exam I will leave feedback as to the helpfulness of the exam Prep.

In general, I would recommend this book not only to those studying to be an agent, but for first time home buyers as well. The downstate region of NY (from Westchester down through Long Island) is different from the rest of the entire Unites States when it comes to Real Estate law and practices/customs. The information contained therein will help in knowing what your options are and who is working for/against you in the transaction. Or if you are just an information junkie, this is a great way to learn about the trade.

Everything You Need To Know
This is a great book although if you havent taken your Real Estate course yet you may want to wait because this book was provided for us when we took the class. This book teaches you about the laws, math, whos who, and who does what. At the end of each chapter there is a summary and questions and in the back of the book there is a test that will get you ready for the state test. The only thing this book does not do is that it doesnt really go over any skills or tips on selling real estate. Overall, its a must have book. ... Read more