Book Description

Learn the new rules of real estate marketing!

Old rule: Your website is all about you.
New rule: Your website is all about the customer.

Old rule: Online advertising will surpass offline advertising.
New rule: Integrated offline and online advertising wins every time.

Old rule: Delivering leads is the only job for a website.
New rule: The best websites deliver leads and customer service.

These are just some of the new rules of online marketing that you’ll find in this helpful, hands-on guide. In the REAL ESTATE RAINMAKER® Guide to Online Marketing, Dan Gooder Richard offers new solutions and proven ways to use the Internet to drive your real estate business. Whether you’re a novice or a veteran real estate pro, you’ll find all the cutting-edge online strategies you need to design and implement your own effective, profitable marketing strategy–with practical guidance on building a unique online brand with web domains, websites, and e-mail marketing strategies. Full of real-world examples and straightforward guidelines, the REAL ESTATE RAINMAKER® Guide to Online Marketing will help you generate more leads and more business than you ever thought possible! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Not Just for Realtors!
WOW! I am so energized after reading Dan Gooder Richard's book, REAL ESTATE RAINMAKER GUIDE TO ONLINE MARKETING! I'm not in Real Estate but in Retail with a store front as well as a website. I plan to use Richard's book as my bible for online maketing. Just wait. My website will be topnotch!!

Real Estate Online Marketing Made Simple
For once Dan Gooder Richard has boiled the complex world of real estate online marketing down to simple strategies novices and experts alike can put to use. This book is easy to understand and best of all it's practical. I would highly recommend this book to all levels of agents and brokers who would like to boost their online marketing efforts.

Dan Richard's Second Book Is Great
Dan Gooder Richard really nails it with this second book. His first book was all about advertising and direct mail. This new book is all about websites and e-mail and how to use them for advertising. At last, the second half of the real estate marketing story has been told.

There are so many helpful hints in this book that it is hard to keep track. You have to read it a second and third time to really absorb everything. This is a must read for anyone interested in real estate marketing or marketing in general as the tips could be applied to many industries.

Wow, e-marketing made easy!!!!
I truly enjoyed this book. It is a simple yet powerful guide to real estate e-marketing that really works. Dan Gooder Richard is in the trenches reporting on real life examples and telling what works and what doesn't. I use this book as a reference and a step-by-step guide. Get the book and get started maximizing your online business.

Great Reading and Easy to Understand
This book is great! It has everything the beginner needs to learn about how to use the Internet for marketing. I'm sure vertern Internet users would find the techniques helpful as well. It is easy to understand and gives step by step instructions for things like setting up a website and using emails effectively. I found it very helpful and would suggest it to anyone looking to grow their Internet business. ... Read more

Book Description

This book explains the uses and benefits of "Illinois-type" land trusts. It explains in detail all the steps from setting up to closing down a trust and includes 29 different legal forms. These include deeds, a trust, amendments to the trust, financing forms, tax forms and many more. It has an appendix which includes relevant statutes and court cases from all 50 states.

Land trusts offer many benefits, such as keeping your real estate holdings private and avoiding probate. Here is a list of the benefits explained in the book:

Privacy

Avoiding Probate

Avoiding Ancillary Administration

Keeping Liens and Judgments off the Property

Avoiding Litigation

Ease of Control by Multiple Owners

Ease of Transferability of Interests

Ease of Changing Contingent Beneficiary

Simplification of Making Gifts

Ease of Foreclosure

Safer Lease/Option Agreements

Keeping Assessments Lower

Keeping Sales Price Secret

Avoiding Transfer Taxes

Limiting Liability

Improved Financial Statement

Ease of Negotiation

Avoiding Partition

Avoiding Personal Problems of Beneficiaries

Holding a Judge’s and Politicians’ Property

Ease of Property Management

Saving Title Insurance Premiums

Avoiding Real Estate Brokerage Laws

Avoiding Spouse’s Forced Share

Buying Foreclosures

Avoiding "Seasoning" Problems

Avoiding Tax Withholding
... Read more

Book Description

Jean Chatzky has been working with viewers of NBC’s Today show for a serieson how to get out of debt once and for all. Her method, both on TV and in this book, issimple yet powerful: the key is saving just $10 a day that you currently waste. It doesn’tsound like much—a movie ticket or lunch for two at McDonald’s— but $10 really cantake you from debt to wealth in just a few years. And because it doesn’t feel like animpossible goal, people are more likely to stick with Chatzky’s plan than an extremeregimen of spending cutbacks.

Chatzky is focusing on debt because it’s the single biggest threat to our financial health.The average American family has sixteen credit cards and high-rate debt of more than$8000, not even counting car loans and mortgages. They pay more than $1000 a year ininterest alone. Debt makes people feel depressed and overwhelmed, leaving them withoutenough money for the truly important things in life—education, retirement, owning ahome, feeling secure.

Chatzky, one of America’s most popular personal finance experts, writes in down- to-earth, woman-next-door language about how to get started right away, without giving upthe things that truly give you pleasure. She offers practical, accessible strategies to helpreaders find the money to pay off their bills, lower their interest rates, and improve theircredit scores. Featuring real-life examples of people featured on her Today showseries, Pay It Down can transform debtors into future millionaires. ... Read more

Book Description

This one-of-a-kind book provides valuable insight into developing raw land into marketable residential lots and homes. Comprehensive coverage includes the design, approval, and development process of developing land on time and within budget. This easy-to-use guide presents practical and proven management techniques and tools. The step-by-step description of land development is based on 20-plus years of professional and practical experiences of the author. These experiences translate into a business toolbox that will help sustain a successful and profitable real estate development company. Completely updated and revised, this second edition introduces several new chapters and sections, including the basics of residential marketing (the buyer and sales absorption; location and competition; pricing and lot premiums; product selection and preplanning; model homes, brochures, and signs; and site features and subdivision design appeal), land planning concepts (land planning for marketability; high density development; cluster and small single family lots; other planning approaches; and regulatory partnership), residential design standards (residential subdivision design survey; right-of-way and pavement widths; cul-de-sacs; street design; yard and swale grading; water and sewer; and storm drainage and stormwater management), 10 Rules for Success at the Planning Board Hearing, and more. Additional topics include land development basics, financing, schedules, consultants, conceptual design planning, residential subdivision design, project approval strategy, permits, land development bid process, land development project management, land development operations, and land development as a business. Extensive reports and checklists provide useful day-to-day management tools. Residential Land Development Practices, Second Edition is an excellent primer for use by engineering schools and their students, and will provide real estate industry professionals with the practical tools to realize quick positive project results and the ability to implement these tools immediately on the job. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Simple, beginners book
Almost half of the book is devoted to the appendices, which contain numerous useful checklists, forms, financial spreadsheets and sample agreements.

Since this is an easy introductory text, the book does not delve into the difficult (but much more interesting) topics such as feasibility analysis, community opposition to development, and equity financing. ... Read more

Book Description

Are you working too many hours for too few clients?Does it seem that you do more paperwork than peoplework?Will you spend more hours on the road than in front of people this year?

Whether your agency is big or small, if you answered yes to any of those quesitons, you need more than an andrenaline boost!You need a shot of strategies to wake things up and put you on the path to success fast.

How to get appointments with 10 clients every day

How to find qualified clients and get them to come to you

How to get clients in and out of your office in 30 minutes-or less

You'll also discover how to ramp up for success with something you already have, but probably overlook, why some clients don't make sense for your agency, and what you need for an effective sales pitch.

Get the help you need by putting Troy Korsgaden on your side.His strategies have made a difference for the thousands of agents who have attended his seminars across the country.They can make a difference fo you, too. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Hands-on power tips
I was fortunate enough to attend a seminar where Troy Korsgaden was one of the presenters. This book is a direct take on the presentation he made. He makes a very compelling case for how to grow your agency. I know it isn't what some of us want to hear. Who wants to bother with hiring other people? What the author says is that if you want to grow your agency, you must duplicate yourself by training others to perform most, if not all, duties that don't involve direct selling. And guess what? Sometimes even that function can be handled by your staff.

Troy Korsgaden's one-man agency managed 1,500 policies after all of nine years in business. With his current setup - including eleven employees - has a growth rate of 750 policies a year. I know, that isn't the goal of some of us in this business. However, his message is that if you really want to grow, there are no shortcuts. Hiring staff is not optional, it is absolutely necessary. Great book. Easy to read and to the point.

Read this book
This book was given to me by a friend when I started my business. It was a godsend! It showed me how to streamline and make my company more effective. It was this book, along with Guerrilla PR Wired, that made me a success.

Really A Great Booster!
Power Position Your Agency is loaded with fantastic tips and ideas! It's definitely helped me, and I'm constantly going back to it. My only caveat is that it's a bit weak on the whole public relations side, especially when the rest is so useful. For the pr stuff, I found Michael Levine's Guerilla PR: Wired to make up for it. I'm really confident that these two books will lead to my company's being in an excellent position!

Step by Step Instructions to Grow Any Agency
I've been in the insurance business for over 15 years. Why oh Why didn't I have this book when I started? The Best instruction book on how to grow Any size agency I've ever read. Troy's been on our side of the desk, had our struggles, same line from upper management, etc. Very good insight PLUS all the scripts one needs to put his program in place in My office! Amazing. The "E-Myth" for the Personal Lines insurance agent. Whether you are brand new or a "Vet" you will take many things out of this book that you can implement immediately and make more money.

A complete manual on how to operate a successful agency.
I've been an insurance agent for 27 years. I subscribe to several insurance trade magazines, and have read dozens of books about insurance sales and have attended hundreds of seminars. I didn't expect to learn much new or useful. But, I'm always looking for a nugget that I might be able to use.

With this book I found more than a nugget. I found a manual on how to operate a successful insurance agency. Any single chapter in this book is worth the price. I will refer to it constantly. ... Read more

Book Description

Earn BIG profits in commercial real estate

If you’re tired of get-rich-quick real estate concepts that sound good but don’t really work, then it’s time to get expert advice on commercial real estate investing from one of the most published real estate authors in America. This straightforward guide gives all real estate investors a shortcut to what does work and why. You’ll find all the essential tips and insider knowledge it takes to get started in commercial real estate. Simple and to the point, this book presents 12 easy-to-follow steps that anyone can use to build a life of financial independence.

Full of real-world examples, insider tips, and tried-and-true advice based on the author’s 40 years of hands-on experience, this comprehensive resource covers all the major aspects of investing in commercial real estate. You’ll learn everything you need to know about financing, valuation, due diligence, leverage, equity, using other people’s money, and much more. Packed with fresh ideas, proven techniques, and effective strategies for profitable investing, Commercial Real Estate Investing gives you all the tools you need to start amassing your fortune today.

Inside you’ll find:

• 7 dynamics of commercial real estate
• 4 greatest real estate myths
• How to make big profits even if you sell for less than you paid
• 6 primary factors that govern real estate values
• 9 critical steps to building an effective comfort zone
• 8 most important elements of due diligence
• 4 levels of property management
• 8 steps to solving problems during negotiations
• 3 magical factors of high positive leverage
• 6 elements necessary for maximum financing
• 9 steps to becoming a real estate "insider"
• 10 ways to convert contacts into profit centers
• 6 powerful negotiation tactics
• Dozens of examples, checklists, and more

Book Description

No more excuses! With this essential resource, there is no more need for agents to panic over business correspondence to clients or customers. Agents simply find the letter they want to use, make any changes they want, insert the clients names and addresses, print the letters, and harvests the benefits. This new time-saving resource includes a CD-ROM that provides more than 200 sample letters and e-mail messages agents and brokers can use daily in their real estate career. Agents will discover letters for all kinds of issues and scenarios, samplemessages that can be copied and pasted into e-mail, checklists, forms, and more. ... Read more

Book Description

The fun and easy way to become a licensed real estate broker

There are currently more than 430,000 real estate brokers and agents in the U.S., and all of them had to pass a state licensing exam. Written by a certified real estate instructor, this plain-English guide gives would-be brokers the information and test-taking know-how they need to pass the licensing exam–and enter into a lucrative new career. It provides reviews of all subjects typically covered in state licensing exams–from property and agency law to contracts, mortgages, and real estate math–and offers study techniques, practice problems, test-taking strategies, and sample exams to help people prepare.

John A. Yoegel, PhD (New Fairfield, CT), is the President of a New York brokerage firm, Real Estate Reference Network, as well as a Certified New York Real Estate Instructor who teaches pre-licensing courses. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Fresh Ideas on Sales
After reading The Wedge, and applying its principles to my sales presentations, I landed a rather large account that I know a competitor was also avidly pursuing. That alone makes the investment in this book worthwhile.
The Wedge focuses on taking business from your competition, by positioning yourself in a manner that distinguishes your business from your competitior. It is one of the first sales books that I ever read that focuses almost exclusively on the concept of taking business away from your competitors, as opposed to developing sales from independent leads. Given that almost every marketplace is static, with only so many entities available to buy your (or your competition's) product, thinking about and successfully executing methods that get your product before buyers who work with, or may be tempted by a competing product, not only makes sense, but is very wise sales strategy. And I can say - IT WORKS!

The Best of The Best of Insurance Sales
Books on sales are a dime a dozen. Some have a focus on a specific market while others are as general as water. If your intention is to break into the broker market or just expand your market share in Insurance, Then This Book Is For You! The book is short, precise and powerful. If you think the price is a little high for a sales book, then you do not deserve this one.
For those with the vision, the intent, and boldness, this book will increase your sales to match your goals. Good Reading. ... Read more

Book Description

Retirement does not have to mean the end of life—in fact it can mean a whole new beginning to the life you never had time to explore. In HOW TO RETIRE HAPPY, WILD, AND FREE, best-selling author Ernie J. Zelinksi shows that the key to enjoying an active and satisfying retirement is dependent on much more than just having adequate financial resources. It means paying attention to all aspects of life, including leisure activities, creative pursuits, physical and mental well-being, and solid social support. With its friendly format, lively cartoons, and captivating quotations, Zelinski’s guide offers inspirational advice on how to follow your dreams instead of someone else’s, how to put your retirement in proper perspective, and how to enjoy life after work. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Zelinski Again
Who Wouldn't Want To Be Coached By A Guy Named Ernie Zelinski? That's the title of an article I wrote about Zelinski's other books. I love Zelinski. This time his book, How to Retire Happy, Wild and Free is about living, although it's disguised as a book on retirement. It is his best.

I recommend the book for anyone under 27 years old because they are young enough to embrace the ideals of this book and shift their lives accordingly. They can choose to live the life their heart calls them too instead of the life the MBA drives them, too. After 27 years of age people get buried in delusions about the supposed necessities of life.

I also recommend the book for people over 50. These people are now wise enough to know better and can embrace the attitudes of Zelinski's retirement long before they stop working for money. His definition of retirement is all about following your heart and is not based much on working for a living or not. Retirement is a state of mind, and you can apply many of the ideas in the book today to make your life happy, wild, and free.

Zelinski is inspiring. Zelinski knows we are all creative; I agree. I am constantly urging my patients to have some creative pursuit in their lives. Here is what he says from the book:

Once you retire, you too can reclaim your creative spirit and find an artistic pursuit that will ignite your inner fire. Your artistic pursuit -- whether it's painting pictures, writing poetry, or making pottery -- will rekindle a part of you that has been suppressed for years by the structure of a job and the routine of daily life. Not only can it make you feel more alive, an artistic pursuit can constitute the primary reason for your being.

Ninety-five percent of books on retirement are about how to plan financially for the event, and they ignore the spirit of the matter. Zelinski goes for the heart as he always does. He shows oodles of evidence demonstrating money has little to do with satisfaction in retirement. It is about finding meaning in your life. It's about living happy, wild, and free. Isn't that something that would be useful at any age? It's what I want for you and for me. That and being able to wear aloha shirts or the equivalent whenever you want. Cha!

Retirement is not just about the money, it's about lifestyle
Having been a financial advisor for more than 30 years, it is a refreshing relief to find a book that does not focus on the monetary issues of retirement. As principal of a company that helps people "design the best years of their life" this book is an excellent primer that is also entertaining. Contrary to the sub-title there is a slowly increasing number of advisors who have an equal focus on retirement lifestyle planning as they do on pure financial planning. The style of read is "appealing." This book will encourage the baby boom generation to explore what is possible for them in retirement, to be more and to contribute more to their communities. Life Planning Matters distributes this book to its clients - it makes a great gift!

Well worth the purchase and your time
Ernie Zelinski's newest publication, entitled HOW TO RETIRE HAPPY, WILD, AND FREE (Ten Speed Press, 2004), is intended for pre-planners, retirees, and those who dream about leaving the restrictions of the daily grind. His often whimsical, yet essentially practical ideas are meant to assist in our making the best of life's pleasures. Like his very successful THE JOY OF NOT WORKING (Ten Speed Press, 2003), HOW TO RETIRE HAPPY, WILD, AND FREE is well thought out, upbeat, and a delight to read. Anyone contemplating retirement -- and I guess that means all of us -- could take a page from Zelinski's book about lifestyle considerations to make the daily activities in our new "life after work" not only full of purpose, but also full of enjoyment. This book is a primer on how the many opportunities found in retirement can help each of us be the person we always knew we were but were too busy to realize...

I'd like to use the expression "right on the money" to characterize Zelinski's suggestions, but after completing this book or any of his others, readers will know that money is not the touchstone for a comparison. As Zelinski himself tells us: "the biggest mistake you can make with your retirement planning is to concentrate only on the financial aspects" (p.2)...Zelinski is methodical in revealing ways for us to be so engaged.

I highly recommend that you purchase and read HOW TO RETIRE HAPPY, WILD, AND FREE. This is one book that will prepare you to keep smiling. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Full of good statistics
Took this course a few years ago, and we used this book. It is a good starter book. There are others out there that could be used also, but this one is written at the average persons reading level. It also is good becuase it covers all properties not just apartments or retail etc..

Good summary
This book is good at the summary at the end of each chapter, but some details in the chapter is not cover. For example, like the law requirement in TX. There is mistake in the book on page 9. On the figure1.3, supposed Heavy Manufacturing instead of Industrial Real Estate repeat twice. This book should provide some excerise to work on. For example, like the math problem, let us know how to calculate the formula. ... Read more

Book Description

Live It Up without Outliving Your Money!

"Paul Merriman's new book is a rich and meaty guide to achieving real retirement security. It's full of wise, easy-to-follow advice that will stand the test of time."
—Knight Kiplinger, Editor in Chief, Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine and The Kiplinger Letter

"Read, Live It Up! Not only does Paul Merriman know the secret to making your money work as hard as you do, he loves helping people achieve their goals and dreams."
–Paul B. Farrell, author of The Millionaire Code, The Winning Portfolio and The Lazy Person's Guide to Investing

An educational and motivational guide to retiring without running out of money

No one understands this better than Paul Merriman. For four decades, Merriman has helped and watched people manage their money—both before and during retirement. Now, in Live It Up without Outliving Your Money!, Merriman distills what he has learned into a sound, time-tested approach to creating a portfolio that will fulfill your unique retirement needs.

Based on Merriman's popular retirement workshops, Live It Up without Outliving Your Money! offers ten straightforward steps to creating and maintaining the perfect retirement portfolio. From determining how much you will need to live on after retirement to recognizing and controlling the expenses of investing, the easy-to-understand strategies outlined within these pages can help you regain confidence in your retirement plan.

Stay current! visit www.wiley.com/go/paulmerriman ... Read more

Book Description

Inspecting a House, aimed at home buyers, real estate agents, and inspectors, discusses all major problem areas in the process in a logical sequence; covers everything from storage tanks to chimney flashing; and shows how to analyze every system in a house. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Already saved me thousands of dollars
Although subtitled "For Pros, by Pros," I think any homeowner or home buyer can benefit from Inspecting A House. This winter it saved me potentially thousands of dollars in repair costs by pointing out the danger of snow build up along the eaves and dormers of my house. It's also helped me identify areas of potential concern where a little preventative maintenance can save me a lot of money down the road.

Inspecting A House's strengths include its in-depth information, easy to understand conversational tone, clear illustrations, and revealing four-color pictures of what to look for (and look out) for. Each chapter concludes with a handy checklist which you can easily photocopy and take with you as you examine your own house or go house shopping.

Inspecting a Book would be a bargain at twice the price.

Book Doesn't Discuss Many Important Topics
Doing construction work for the past 25 years makes me very knowledgable about houses. I bought this book to become a home inspector and found it to be lacking in many ways to say the least. Your local handyman could teach you more about inspecting houses than this book can. The most important topics for home construction and inspections were not even discussed in this book.

I do not recommend this inspector book.
For many years I have been working in real estate and I found this book to be very brief and basic. I cannot see how a home owner would benefit from the basic advice talked about in this book. Perhaps a book on home contstruction would be far more helpful to you. My customers ask me for advice about books to read when they buy a house and this is not one of the titles I would give them. This is not an expensive book but my main concern is reading a good book that I can learn from, not just getting a low price on it.

Inspecting A House
This is a great starter book for a general introduction into the field of home inspection. It is widely used and recommended for the Humber College - online home inspection certificate program.

Over 100 online course participants have commented on the easy reading style, and excellent photographs that accompany this book. Its also used in our face to face delivery. Its personally one of my favourites.

Terrible book for anyone who knows home inspections.
The author of this book needs to learn proper home inspection procedures before he sells himself as knowledgable. I have been inspecting homes for 19 years and often give lectures on the topic. After reading most of this book I realized what a waste of money it was because the information was incorrect or incomplete. I can't believe how many mistakes I found in this book. I'm glad I returned it for a refund on my money but not happy I wasted my time reading it! ... Read more

Book Description

Everything the first-time buyer needs to know to avoid the 106 most common mistakes in purchasing a home or condo…

Written especially for first-timers, this eye-opening guide turns you into an educated consumer, ensuring that the home or condo you buy is both a comfortable place to live and an investment that appreciates in value. Compiled from the experience of hundreds of homebuyers, real estate agents, home builders, and mortgage lenders, it shows you the most common mistakes buyers make and illustrates them in practice so you don’t fall into the same traps.

Now revised and expanded, this invaluable resource covers everything from negotiating with sellers and making the down payment to shopping for the best mortgage and handling the closing. The new Third Edition also includes two totally new chapters that offer advice on writing a purchase contract and using the Internet to find a home. Discover how to save time, money, and frustration by avoiding:

Mistake No. 35: We looked at selling prices but still overpaid.
Mistake No. 39: My agent told me this was a good school district.
Mistake No. 41: We bought into an upscale development that’s moving downscale.
Mistake No. 65: We should have looked at the utility bills.
Mistake No. 82: We let our agent negotiate for us.
Mistake No. 105: We didn’t buy.We were afraid of making a mistake.

Written by one of the nation’s leading real estate experts and packed with hundreds of valuable tips and suggestions, The 106 Common Mistakes Homebuyers Make, Third Edition will give you the confidence–and the wisdom–to buy the right home at the right price. ... Read more

Reviews (37)

A little too gung-ho
I didn't get much out of this book because the author seems to think that homebuying is right for everyone at practically anytime. He didn't present the other side of the coin. And he focused primarily, it seemed to me, on low-income home-searchers. If you are such a person, this book may be right for you. I was looking for a book to help me think through the process of finding a broker I could trust, what I should expect from a broker, how to determine what kind of house I really should buy (so I don't buy based on love at first sight), and other planning tools (not planning in terms of saving for a down payment, but planning in terms of the homebuying process). This book really didn't give me any of that. I bought 2 other books for first-time homebuyers at the same time, and I'm just getting into the second one, which I find MUCH more useful and geared towards what I'm looking for. It's called "Questions every first-time homebuyer should ask" by Ilyce Glink. She is a broker, which of course means that her slant may be different from this book, but a lot of what she writes about doesn't involve the brokerage process at all. Like "how do I know what I want", "how do I fiure out where I really want to live", "how do I look for a home", "should I use a buyer's broker", "how do I identify what I need in a home versus what I like in a home", and then more subjects on negotation, determining what I can afford, financing, things to do before you close, and lots of other useful information. Last but not least, the author of the subject book had a very, very annoying writing style. I felt like it was geared toward a third-grader. The Glink book is much more of an enjoyable read.

By far the best
Having spent several hours in B&N reading through the many different books on homebuying, we bought this one and Dummies. 106 Mistakes turned out to be the best by far. It gave us far more concrete examples concerning everything from mortgages to inspection to homeowner associations. In addition, it really helped us understand how to evaluate the appraisal as wellas the investment potential of the homes and neighborhoods we were considering. Eldred's experience and expertise seems to stand head and shoulders above the others. Plus, this book is the most entertaining to read. Don't look for a home without it.

Grossly exaggerated!!!
This book is written for the benefit of real estate agents. I am constantly irrated by the author bragging on how real estate would make money. Based on what? His calculations are seriously flawed to a point that it is not even funny. He assumes one does not need money to maintain his/her house - no money out.

I did a simple calculation which assumes $180,000 house with 10% down and 3.25% property tax and 6.5% interest rate on 30 years term. The out of pocket money WITH tax credit will run you up to $1100. If you add lawn mow, cable, water, electricty etc., you know what I am talking about. This is the money down the drain. You house needs to appreciate at least 9% to just break even, and how can the author say 4% appreciation rate would make you money?

I give it 3 stars because it does provide some good comments like priorities you need to list out before you buy. It is still a good read on many other topics. I just hope the author can save his sales pitch.

Could have been far better if it concentrated on the top 25
I am not sure if there are 106 COMMON mistakes homebuyers make. I think the number is probably more like 25. The author addresses "common mistakes" which most of us wouldn't care about. For example, #44 "Find out whether you will fit in with your neighbors" (do most of us even care what our neighbor thinks of us?) , #51 "We seldom see the Sun here" (you mean not everywhere is like California????), #76 "The worst they can do is say no" (*yawn*). Having said this, there are SOME good information here which is worth the cheap price of this book. Just don't expect all the 106 "common mistakes" apply to you.

Good, but best as an adjunct.
Gary Eldred, The 106 Common Mistakes Home Buyers Make (Wiley, 2002)

Reading this on the heels of Ilyce Glink's book may not have been a good idea, or it may have been a great one. I'm not sure yet. The two mostly cover the same ground, though Eldred never even brings up the possibility of buying a home without a realtor (Glink glosses over it), and Eldred does get into a little more detail about a few things. He also has a more cynical attitude towards the subject than Glink, but then looking at the books' titles alone should convey that well enough.

A good adjunct, but not sure it would be as good a stand-alone tome; Eldred misses a few beats in telling you the options you have while he's too busy shutting the door on the options you should avoid. Best read in tandem with Glink. *** ½ ... Read more

Book Description

Huge fortunes can be amassed by holding real estate for the long term-up to 20 or 30 or years in some cases.Yet most people don't have the luxury of time and need cash to cover their day-to-day expenses.To that end, nationally renowned real estate expert Ron LeGrand has developed a method of buying real estate to generate cash that he calls "quick turning."Over the past 15 years, he has bought and sold more than a thousand properties for fast-cash profit using the method.

In How to Be a Quick Turn Real Estate Millionaire: Make Fast Cash with No Money, Credit, or Previous Experience, LeGrand shares this system for buildinglong-term wealth.With wit and wisdom, he outlines four main categories of "quick-turn" transactions: retailing, wholesaling, assumptions, and lease/options.He helps readers understand which type of transaction is appropriate for their specific cash flow goals, and he reveals how-to secrets that real estate investors, and wannabe investors, can use to:
* Get rich on fixer-uppers without lifting a hammer.
* Find motivated sellers.
* Negotiate win-win deals.
* Sell houses fast.
* Succeed while others fail. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A True Self Made Real Estate Millionaire
I became aware of Ron Legrand 2 years ago, and the first time I listened to him speak, I realized he had something you can't find on late night infomercials. STREET SMARTS! He has mastered the art of communication from the seller's point of view as if he's reading their cards on every big hand at the poker table. I only rate the book a 4 star effort because he is better to listen to! A remarkable man who has helped American dreams come true, by the thousands. Thanks Ron and Amazon!

Keith

Maryland, USA

Great Book
Ron's book is remarkable. I have been doing Real Estate Investing the LeGrand way for a year now. I have made a great profit and my wife and I are very excited about the prospect for the future. This book is a good foundation for more education on creative real estate by Ron and others.

Quick Turn Real Estate is not a Get Rich Quick Scheme like some of the others, but it is a Get Rich Business. You can do this!!! with no money or credit!! I have done deals on properties of over $350,000 with only $250 of my own money in the deal.

This book takes over where Robert Kiyosaki left off. It is the meat of the entree. I didn't know how to do real estate investing after the Rich Dad's Series, but it got me interested just like it was suppose to do. Ron and his techniques will get me where Robert said I needed to go.

Fantastic. Buy it. Read it. Live it. Don't be a thinker brain, be an alligator brain and just do it. ... Read more

Book Description

PRAISE FOR THE FIRST EDITION OF Mulitple Streams of Income

"The whole idea of Multiple Streams of Income will be a powerful paradigm shift for most people. Bob Allen then gives practical and beautifully illustrated knowledge on how to do it. Mastering financial principles is an important habit in life because it gives us the freedom to focus on what matters most. A valuable read." –– Dr. Stephen R. Covey author of  The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

"If you’re ready to have the money just keep rolling in, read Multiple Streams of Income by Robert Allen. Bob knows how to share his lifetime of learning, compressed in an easy-to-read, easy-to-absorb, and easy-to-use format."
–– Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen authors of the Chicken Soup for the Soul^® series

"I have tremendous respect for Robert Allen’s ability to teach people how to make a lot of money. His book, Multiple Streams of Income, contains a wealth of information."  –– Robert T. Kiyosaki author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad and CEO of Cash Flow Technologies

"Multiple Streams of Income is a wise investment! Robert Allen once again delivers us the simple and sound advice that quenches our thirst for healthy economic prosperity." –– Ken Blanchard coauthor of  The One Minute Manager^®

"Multiple Streams of Income is an incredible book! You will learn more practical ideas to make money, keep the money you make, and become financially independent in this book than in any other single source. It is a financial success bible for the twenty-first century." –– Brian Tracy author of The 100 Absolutely Unbreakable Laws of Business Success

"One idea that Robert Allen gave me added an additional stream of over $100,000 in our income. Think what 18 chapters full of innovative, no-nonsense strategies can do for you! Read Multiple Streams of Income and reap the harvest." –– Dr. Denis Waitley author of The Psychology of Winning ... Read more

Reviews (151)

Inspired me to take action
This is without doubt Robert Allens most under rated book. I have read Multiple Streams of Income and The 1 Minute Millioniare along with Creating Wealth and Nothing Down. I am a huge fan of Robert Allen. He is a fantastic coach,writer and businessman.

In this easy to read book, Mr. Allen teaches you everything you need to know to get into cuberspace and successfully operate an internet business. Note the word "successfully." While there are many books purported to help you get online and build a internet business, how many actually work? I have always been disappointed,e xcept with this one.

Also recommend Multiple Streams of Income for even more income ideas. I also found an interesting website that corresponds with Mr. Allen's ideas. Check it out at http://www.myxango.com/platinumteam.

Good luck and thank you Mr. Allen. I am looking forward to your next foray!

Super Book
This is undoubtly Robert Allens best book to date. So much information, so many diverse ways to make money. The naysayers are probably college graduates who would prefer to sit behind a desk for 40 years and say; "Yes master" ENT!For the entrepeneurs and business leaders, this book is a must read. You can start with network marketing, create income and enjoy the same tax benefits that bg busineeses enjoy.You can use Bob Allens Real Estate strategies and still make money in the real estate market. People who say it's over, better read this book. You can also safely invest in the stock market with Index Funds and/or covered calls with the Cooper Method. Or you can enjoy 100% risk reduced returns in the options market.Bob Allen has written a excellent book, probably his best. Don't knock it, try it.I also recommend Wall Street Money Machine for even more covered calls and option strategies and Wealth 101.

Escaped the rat race, thank you Robert
While I admire the success of people like the reviewer who precedes mine, network marketing never really appealed to me. I tried it once back in the 70's, had a lousy sponsor who didn't teach me beans and the company I was in loaded me and other distributors with soaps, shampoo's and so on.

That said, what I like about Robert Allen's book is that he recommends network marketing as a choice but also recommends other ways to create residual income, that are low risk and low cost.

I highly recommend this book by Mr. Allen. It's great.

Multiple ways of creating income and wealth
Robert Allen has written an excellent book here. For people opposed to network marketing (I'm very bullish on network marketing), that's o kay, Allen offer many other strategies to create wealth. In fact, to create Multiple Streams of Income.

For me, the best and safest way to create multiple streams of income is via network marketing. With network marketing, you can use the same power of leverage that Allen uses and suggests in his real estate books. It is the same principle that Donald Trump used to become a billionaire. In fact, speaking of Donald Trump, several years ago The Donald was on a tv talk show and when asked if he had to start over again, what would he do differently. Trump said he would find a good network marketing company and go to work!

Personally, I feel that everyone should set up a network marketing business. It's low cost, can be started part, part time and you can create a high income rapidly if you are with the right company and put forth the right effort.

Enough of network marketing. It's a winning stategy and I am glad that Robert Allen understands it and is recommending it.

Allen also discusses real estate. He explains how to buy real estate with no money down and using the power of leverage. He also discusses tax liens and discounted mortgages. Both powerful ways to create passive income and again, Allen shows you ways to invest in these power packed strategies with no money down.

Allen also discusses how to be an intropreneur (not my choice) and how to use the internet.

All in all, Multiple Streams of Income is a powerful book that can add many streams of income to your income portfolio. Much better strategy than relying on just 1 income streams---a job.

AND the good news is that anybody can start any of these strategies right now while you are working at your job. They can all be started part, part time with little or no investment and create cash flow immediately.

Great book Mr. Allen. I recommend it.

Phew! I avoided this one...
I thumbed through this one at the Sam's warehouse store. Thank goodness! It is large type and full of ads and worthless advice. I don't know the guy who wrote this book. I see from some of the other reviews here that he must have a habit of writing this type of book. I am glad that I wasn't taken in by the title. The book reads like the ads you used to see on matchbook covers "EARN EIGHT BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR stuffing envelopes from home!"

Maybe the real "Income Stream" is to write a book like this and then have people write "positive" reviews to keep the rating high. Do you think that would work?

What has me wondering is that people are posting positive comments that aren't actually useful reviews. Why would someone waste a paragraph in a review talking about his vacation instead of the book?

There is something fishy about these positive, so-called "reviews." There is also something fishy about the book. It stinks.

But hey... Why should I complain? I SAVED REAL MONEY... by not buying this book. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Suze Orman's face and name are more prominent on the cover of her new money guide than its title, The Road to Wealth. And why not? Orman has parlayed her popular renown as both a New York Times bestselling author and video-age financial guru into an undeniable position of respect and trust when it comes to matters of dollars and sense. This time she presents an encyclopedic guide to the various components of one's overall financial life--from managing debt and owning a home to making investments and preparing to pass it all along--and she does so in the clear and confident style to which her fans have become accustomed. "Here is what you need to know," she writes at the outset. "Answers to the questions you have been asking, as well as the questions you should have been asking, delivered in the most complete, straightforward way I know." While the concise text moves logically from "creating a strong financial foundation to amassing assets and protecting them from common mistakes and periods of economic downturn," this is not meant to be read from cover to cover. Rather, it is a ready bookshelf reference for planning and sorting out common finance concerns, like how to calculate the mortgage payment you can best afford, determine what Medicare will pay toward nursing care, decide between retirement plan options, and similar matters of personal importance. --Howard Rothman ... Read more

Reviews (56)

Financial answers for the rest of us.
The book provides us with a wealth of practical financial answers in a very sound, straightforward, honest, and easy-to-understand language. The core emphasis of the book is to help you create a strong, debt-free foundation to amassing assets and protecting them in periods of economic downturn; from buying a home to providing for loved ones; from investing with confidence and navigating the markets in good times and bad to securing reliable income for our later years. If you are interested or have any of these financial needs you need this valuable book. This is a book designed to help you take action-wherever you are in your life and whatever your needs. If you think all the advice you need is from your local bank then you have obviously missed the boat.

FinanacialNeeds.com

Follow Suze to YOUR Road to Wealth!
I have to admit that I didn't like this book all that much when it first came out. So I didn't buy it when it was originially released.

Several weeks back while browsing my favorite book store, I cam across this book now in paperback, noticed it was updated and revised from the original version and found some good info that I had missed earlier.

Anxiously I took the book home and placed post it notes throughout the book to areas that applied to me. I was able to make substantial savings especially in the areas of insurance and credit card debt. I also started investing in my company's 401 (k) plan and am taking advantage of Pres. Bush's generous IRA provisions contributing the maximum to both retirement plans. Thank you Pres. Bush!

Overall, this is one of the best financial books that I have ever read. It is very complete and also very well organized.

I also recommend Suze's newest book The Laws of Money, also now available in paperback.

Thank you Suze Orman!

The Road to Wealth
The Road to Wealth by Suze Orman was extremely informational. Being 18 and very new to the world of finance I learned a lot from reading it. The way the book is set up in a question and answer format makes it easy to read on specific subjects. It would be a good idea to keep a copy in your house. That way you could read the different chapters as they apply to your life. I liked the section about paying for college best because I have to pay my own way through college, so it gave me some helpful tips. The Road to Wealth covers a wide variety of finance subjects all of which could be helpful at many different points in one's life. It covers everything from how to prepare yourself financially for when you retire to making out a will. I would recommend this book especially for people who haven't experienced much financially. It is a great way to learn about many different aspects of the financial world.

A Wealth of Infomation
My father recommended that I read this book, as he is a director of property tax and works in the business and finance world every day. I was scared at first at the size of the book, but it is actually very easy to understand and a great reference book.
It has a convenient question-and-answer type format that allows the reader to peruse over various topics, or to narrow in on one in particular.
I was greatly surprised at the immense amount of information that this book contains. Everything from the emotions of divorce and how it affects to finances to how to pay for college is covered throughout the pages.
I would highly recommend that this book be found in every household, as it is would be an excellent source to turn to with many small questions- about wills, investing, and any other sort of monetary question.
On a final note- Suze Orman also has her own tv show that is quite interesting and information as well. Just like the book, it is also not boring, but rather takes tough subjects and make them seem easy!

Another good book by the "Love Bug" Lady
Although I do not feel that this is Suze Orman's best book, it is certaintly better than most if not all of the other books out there.

I like the question and answer format of the book, makes it easy to look up information that is important to a individual.
The book is large and may be intimidating to some people, perhaps that is why there are some 1 star reviews. None the less, the material is fresh and interesting. Orman is also a great writer and makes you feel like she is talking to you one on one.

Check out Suze's newest book "The Laws of Money", just released in paperback and revised from the hardback version. It is a book suitable for the times and even better than The Road to Wealth. Some may want to buy both like my wife did.

Great books. Great stuff from Suze, the Queen of Personal Finance! ... Read more

Reviews (33)

Put a little TLC (Tax Lien Certificates) in your portfolio.
Tax liens are the safest, highest yielding investment available today. In North Carolina, where I live, tax liens pay 12%. Better than CDs and better than losing money in the stock market. In Iowa, tax liens pay 24%. In Texas and Michigan, 50%.... First, tax liens are available in N.C. AND THEY ARE AVAILABLE IN MOST STATES, NOT JUST 25. Perhaps he is confusing deed states with mortgage states. Tax liens are among the safest of investments. The only real risk is if the debtor pays off the lien prematurely---you lose profits. Or if you buy a lien on a really bad piece of property. If the debtor doesn' pay off the lien, you get the home and foreclosing is not all difficult.... I highly recommend the 16% Solution and of course investing in tax liens. Obviously. Great money maker along with real estate and discounted mortgages.

Ignore the negative and uninformed bashers of tax liens
The 16% Solution is an excellent book to help you get started investing in a very powerful and safe investment.

True it was written back in the 90's, but things really haven't changed all that much. And yes it is true that institutions are in on tax liens, but the real truth is that these were and are and always have been the primary players. I suspect the negative reviews are from banks and other institutions who do not want you to know about these outstanding investments.

The rate of return is not cut in stone. While you are not guaranteed 16%, in some states and in many cases you can earn 50%...even today.

I invest in tax liens and especially over the last three years, have far outperformed the stock market and other forms of investment. I have also picked up houses for pennies on the dollar via tax liens. Remember, a tax lien is superior to all other liens, even IRS liens.

As I said, I invest in tax liens and the USA is a huge market place. I don't feel that letting you know what a great investment tax liens are is going to hurt my business. And no, I do not have any courses or books to sell. Nor am I in any way associated with this author or any other author or seminar promoter. I just believe in these investments based on my own experience and hate to see potential investors scared away from a very powerful and lucrative investment because of one malcontent who is only trying to push a dead website which does have books and seminars to sell.

I guess I am old fashioned that way.

The 16% Solution is an outstanding book and I highly recommend it.

Have to agree with the five star reviewers,
There are some pretty bored and misinformed people posting on this board. Obviously, despite their raging, bashing and claimsof being tax lien investors, their reviews spew out totally unsubstantiated comments, and these people don't know beans about tax liens.

Tax liens are among the safest and most profitable ways to make money. SAFER & MORE profitable than playing the stock market. You can make up to 50% rates of return in some states. One caveat; beware of land in certain areas and research the liens that you are going to buy.

Tax liens are profitable, safe and fun. Disregard the 1 star reviewers on this great investment and this great book. Sure it was written back in the early 90's, but not that much has changed. This isn't like personal finance or tax strategies which change almost constantly.

The 16% Solution is a great way to learn how to invest in tax liens and I recommend it.

Powerful rates of return
I first heard about tax liens from reading Charles Givens excellent book Wealth Without Risk (now More Wealth Without Risk)

Tax liens are a very powerful and safe investment tool. Imagine government guaranteed returns of 18%-50%!

WARNING: Many investors hope you never find out about tax liens. I attended a tax lien auction in Miami county, Fl and also one in Pennsylvania. The attitude is somewhat like a library with a hush and everyone looks on you like a outsider.

I recommend you attend a auction in your area to fully appreciate the value of tax liens. First, read this book and I also recommend More Wealth Without Risk for tax liens and other financial information.

Tax leins are a fantastic way to achieve Wealth Without Risk.

Good base information, but...
I think it could go just a bit deeper in depth on how to get started as a rank beginner. Some of us are very new to investing on our own. It seems a bit intimidating at times. Maybe a little more "hand-holding" and explain in VERY simple to understand terms. Overall, I really enjoyed the read. I've loaned it to my brother and we hope to start investing together soon. I highly recommend the book. ... Read more

Book Description

J.K. Lasser Pro™ Before You Plan, Consult J.K.Lasser

Innovative Planning That Benefits Professionals and Clients

What does it take to be a successful fee-only financial planner? According to John Sestina, acclaimed "father of fee-only financial planning," the only special qualifications are a genuine desire to help people, an ability to listen, and a commitment to lifelong learning.

Fee-Only Financial Planning introduces financial planners to the newest, fastest-growing niche in the financial planning field–fee for service rather than commission-based planning. Fee-only planning is attractive to the growing number of clients who want to avoid the long-term payments, lack of objectivity, limited choices, or conflict of interest that can occur with a commission-based payment structure.

In his comprehensive how-to guide and easy-to-use reference, John Sestina provides in-depth coverage of the financial planning field. He covers such topics as:

• The advantages and disadvantages of fee-only planning for both client and planner
• Making the transition from commission-based to fee-based planning
• Building a profitable practice with varied client bases
• Tailoring to your own work style the system Sestina developed over 35 years of successful private practice
• Developing and maintaining productive client relationships

For professionals wondering whether fee-only financial planning is in their future, or for anyone in financial services who wants to stay current, Fee-Only Financial Planning is an eye-opening introduction to one of the financial world’s freshest, richest entrepreneurial careers. ... Read more

Book Description

As recent events have proven, when it comes to retirement, relying solely on a 401K plan is a sure recipe for disaster. By the year 2012-10 years from now-the vast majority of Baby Boomers will be on the verge of retirement-and they'll be looking to cash in on their hefty 401K retirement packages. The problem is, according to Kiyosaki and Lechter, that all of these people who religiously pumped thousands of dollars over their working years into their 401Ks are going to be crushed if their mutual funds just haven't performed. To avert this financial crisis, Kiyosaki and Lechter provide a detailed financial plan to help forward-looking people prepare for the worst and start planning now. ... Read more

Reviews (94)

Prophecy: Timely and Scary for Majority of Baby Boomers
I did not expect to get much out of this book. I expected the usual litany of admonitions and suggestions available in hundreds of articles and basic books on finance for the masses. Despite that low expectation, the first chapter had me hooked.

With an aging population, turmoil in the stock markets, and lack of knowledge about how much money is needed for retirement, author Robert Kiyosaki gives specifics to support his theory about predictable problems facing those who hope to retire.

The book won't appeal to people who are satisfied with their current job and have no plans to change in the future. But for those who care about government policy and how these policies and demographics are impacting our society, the book is eye-opening as well as easy-to read.

The "rich dad, poor dad" vehicle gets old but is stiff an effective and sometimes entertaining vehicle for conveying information.

Definitely a must read.
Rich Dad's Prophecy is most certaintly a must read book for anyone who has money invested, especially in 401 (k) plans.

While some of the information in RDP is similiar to Kiyosaki's earlier books, the pension, retirement and 401 (k) is fresh, startling and hopefully alarming to anyone who plans on investing their money between now and 2016.

2016 is the year when the bulk of the baby boomers will be forced to liquidate their retirement funds. When this happens, a major stock market crash is expected (no kidding!) that surpass the bear market from 2000 to 2002.

Another problem is what kind of money will current savers have in their 401 (k)s? For example, before going into self employment, I worked in a local office for one of the top 6 banks in the USA and had been putting all I could into my 401 (k) savings plan. Despite this being one of the "Big 6" Banks, matching by the bank was about average (and any matching reflected in reduced wages), options to invest in were patheticly weak and the bank would match us only with shares of Bank One stock.

After reading RDP and going into self employment, I rolled my 401 (k) into a self directed IRA with a brokerage firm. I now choose my investments between stocks, mutual funds and bonds or even Tax Liens, Discounted Mortgages and Real Estate. I'm in control, not my employer.

The only real benefit of a 401 (k) is the borrowi