Book Description

The realtor's essential guide to harnessing true earning power

How to Become a Power Agent in Real Estate gives real estate agents both the powerful sales techniques and the practical management tips they need to double their income by closing more transactions. Based on the outstanding success of Darryl Davis's seminar "The POWER Program," this motivational guide utilizes POWER Principles to help the new agent as well as the experienced top producer dramatically increase listings and sales.

The book is full of Davis's surefire methods for managing the sales process, including time management for agents, prospecting for listings, handling the seller's and buyer's concerns, maintaining a winning attitude, and generating more sales in less time. He also reveals how clever use of the Web can provide a competitive edge and how the top producers work smarter­­not harder. Offering field-proven tools and techniques, Davis shows agents how to progress at their own pace to their own personal Next Level and accelerate their entry into Top Agent status.

Reviews (16)

What you can get out of " POWER AGENT IN REAL ESTATE"
The book is great. It is the same material used in the 12 month Darryl Davis Program. The program itself helps those not as self motivated, but anyone who reads the book, does what it says and can hold themself accountable, will benefit greatly. For others if they even get a couple ideas and put them to use, they will increase their income.

Excelent!!
This is a great book. I am about half way through at the time of this review. So far there have been many great tips on how to increase your real estate business. This book is great for a new agent or a power seller. I plan on using all of the techniques that are talked about in this book. Great book, definetly worth the price

Great Real Estate Tips
This is a very good book. The author gives very good advice for novice to professional real estate agents. I learned some good tips and adopted some great techniques from this book. The techniques work the more you apply them.

manipulation
This book is full of salesman scripts and manipulation. I was disappointed in the book. I dont think the days of just being honest are totally gone and I dont think you should have to have a script to answer your clients every questions, Why not just tell them the truth??? The book had a couple of good prospecting ideas and was somewhat motivating, but all in all it's a good book for a used car salesman.

This Book Got Me Fired
After reading this book four times I applied the principles described in this book and got myself three marketable listings in eight days. My creative ideas for farming postcards are more attractive and far funnier than any sold in catalogs. I was emailing, talking in person, and telephoning prospects from seven in the morning until seven at night up to seven days a week.

My broker called me aside and said, "Marcia, I have to let you go, you are so aggressive you are scaring everyone in this office. I am afraid you are frightening customers."

I had only been in the business three months so I am now broke, selling plasma and cleaning a few houses. As a single mom, facing a destitute Christmas is hard, but I keep smiling. I will save up enough to start over again: do the same things Darryl taught me at another office, (only under my broker, fellow agents and the support staff's radar screen). If you are an new agent who knows how to hide your light under a bushel basket, buy this book!!! ... Read more

Book Description

Investing in real estate can be complex and fraught with perils.New investors and seasoned veterans alike make mistakes.In a brand-new take on real estate investing, experienced investor and attorney Robert J. Hill II shares words of wisdom gained through experience from successful real-life real estate investors nationwide.This is practical advice on the real-life traps that trip up eventhe most experienced investors.

What No One Ever Tells You About Investing in Real Estate will help new, experienced, and would-be real estate investors identify pitfalls and learn tricks and strategies to sidestep problem areas.Readers get hands-on advice in such action areas as:
*Mastering the basics.
*Understanding types of properties and different ways deals are structured.
*Finding profitable real estate deals.
*Financing opportunities.
*What to do when closing as the buyer or the seller.
*How analyzing the sale differs when you're selling versus when you're buying.
*Smart strategies for maintaining rental properties.

Inspiring, motivational, and supportive, readers will learn from these inside stories, including the funny, embarrassing, or even huge real estate investing mistakes that have never been told.What No One Ever Tells You About Investing in Real Estate also includes a wealth of proven forms that support successful practices. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Short, Pithy, Practical-Thumbs Up!
This book is like sitting down and brainstorming with a roomful of friends and mentors who share their "good, bad, and ugly" stories about real estate investing.It is not only very accessible because of its short story anthology style, it has 100's of practical ideas for every investor.The stories inspire, without glossing over the very real difficulties of real estate investing.It is both entertaining and useful.I hope there is a sequel in the works.

GET THIS BOOK IF YOU PLAN TO OWN RENTAL PROP.
This is an excellent read to really get an understanding of how well and how poorly managing rental properties can be.It is a short read filled with stories of rental property owners.I've read several books over the past couple months.This is definitely worth your time.If nothing else, you will walk away with stories with possible solutions to reference for your future.

This does not cover financing properties much at all, but it is not the point of the book.I'm now reading "The Weekend Millionaire's Secrets to Investing in Real Estate"- corny title but this book is also excellent...it reviews financing more in detail.
... Read more

Book Description

Help your students overcome math anxiety with this comprehensive workbook that improves math skill and prepares students for actual real estate practice.This must have text features step by step instructions for the mathmematical calculations required of real estate professionals.Highlights are:
* Over 60 problems give students plenty of practice ineach area.
* Step by step instructions simplify even the most complex calculations.
* Workbook format is ideal for both classroom and home study.
* Free Instructor Resource Guide includes learning objectives, instructional strategies, exam book, answer keys, and a PowerPoint presentation. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Mastering Real Estate Math
Whether you are entering the real estate market for the first time and are prepping for your exam, or are a seasoned pro, this book is a total Godsend! Ralph Tamper and his associates have amassed an impressive, comprehensive and easily digestible volume on any and everything you need to know about the specifics of real estate math to get started-and thrive-in the business. And, if like me me, it's been a very long time since you've even seen a math book, you, too, will be eternally grateful for this book!
Mastering Real Estate Math walks you step-by-step through every pertinent scenario and provides clear, concise instruction, practice questions, and a challenging test at each chapter's end, so you'll feel confident and ready on exam day...and beyond. The answer key shows the methodology used in problem solving, enhancing the learniong process.
I couldn't have passed my exam without it! This text should absolutely be a requirement in all real estate education curriculums in the USA, not just for exam prep, but for use in everyday practice. Even my mortgage broker in California who has 20 years in the business got it and he loves it!
Big kudos again to Ralph Tamper and Co. for a producing an essential workbook, and thus providing real estdate industry professionals with a tremendous asset. And kudos also to Dearborn Real Estate Education for their fine roster of real estate educational materials. ... Read more

Book Description

With more than a million copies in print, Robert Allen's Nothing Down for the '90s has probably helped more people achieve success in real estate than any book in history. Countless numbers of his readers are now financially independent and many actual millionaires attribute their wealth to his techniques. Why has this blockbuster bestseller been so successful? The answer is simple: it works! Now, in one of the most practical books you'll ever read, Robert Allen has created effective new wealth strategies for investing in real estate.

Real estate remains the one reliable investment in which profits can be made consistently, no matter where you live. Whether employment figures and stock prices are high or low, the real estate market never dries up -- it is one of the most dynamic income-producing vehicles ever created. The demand for housing will continue to be strong in most areas of the country for the foreseeable future. There will, of course, always be plenty of foreclosures, which are great opportunities to purchase properties cheaply. And, finally, mortgage qualification today is simpler than ever, with new mortgage packages that did not even exist twenty years ago.

Nothing Down for the 2000s shows you how to locate the best buys, deal with real estate agents, and manage properties, all with little -- or no -- money down. Discover step-by-step techniques and dynamic strategies to:

• Use real estate to build monthly income

• Finance bargain properties for equity or cash flow

• Guarantee and secure your retirement

• Find and profit from foreclosures before they are publicly listed

• Sell and trade for maximum gain

• Increase property value

• Use owner financing to create opportunities

• Obtain direct, legal tax cuts

• Profit from conversions

• Develop effective negotiation techniques, and much more

Excellent for beginners or experienced investors, Nothing Down for the 2000s is the key to generating low-risk, high-profit wealth and to a potential future of security and financial independence. ... Read more

Book Description

While many books offer sample forms and advice about drafting clauses for retail, office, and industrial leases, few examine the essential business issues underlying each clause of the lease from both sides of the negotiating table — tenant and landlord alike.

Whether you are a business owner about to sign a lease, a real estate professional determined to draft the ideal transaction for your client, or a landlord looking to protect profits and property simultaneously, Negotiating Commercial Real Estate Leases can help you understand

*The obvious and not-so-obvious differences between “standard” landlord and tenant leases.
*Specific negotiating strategies for retail/shopping center, office and industrial leases.
*The critical economic and legal issues at stake in each clause of the lease.
*Which points are most easily negotiated under what situations and which points aren’t worth the time spent arguing.
*What alternative clauses and solutions can be offered to create a deal that works for both parties.

As the basics of term, rent, premises, assignment, maintenance, insurance, default, taxes, alterations, and more are covered, author Martin Zankel uses wit and wisdom to break down confusing legalisms and offer basic negotiating strategies for each situation.

The book also includes two appendixes that provide examples of a tenant-oriented lease and a landlord-oriented lease. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A well crafted, superbly presented instructional guide
Negotiating Commercial Real Estate Leases is a well crafted, superbly presented instructional guide for the business owner and a "must read" before signing a lease. Readers will learn the obvious and not-so-obvious differences between so-called "standard" landlord and tenant leases; the critical economic and legal issues implicated in lease clauses; which points are most easily negotiated under what situations and which points aren't worth the time spent negotiating; what alternative clauses and solutions can be offered to create a leasing deal that works for both the business tenant and the building landlord. Negotiating Commercial Real Estate Leases will save the prospect business tenant a great deal of time, money, aggravation, and future real estate leasing-related disappointments.

Negotiating Commercial Real Estate Leases
Absolutely the best real estate book I have read. This is not a get rich quick scam. It disects commercial real estate transactions using a sequence similar to that of an actual sales contract. He points, step by step, to each part of the negotiation process from both the buyers and sellers point of view. Then he explores negotiating options that lead to mutually beneficial result. I have read and studied this book. It is absolutley invaluable to me, and I am not even in the commercial end of the business. I would think that any broker, realtor or principal who negotiates complex real estate transactions would benefit from this book. Why doesn't he write more? It's a shame. ... Read more

Book Description

Highly regarded for comprehensiveness and quality, ULI's handbooks have provided real estate professionals with practical advice and authoritative information on the development process for decades.

The Multifamily Housing Development Handbook covers best practices and proven techniques for a wide range of project types and settings. Each aspect of the development process is explained in detail, from market analysis and financing to product design and operations.

Rich with color photos, examples, and case studies, the book describes the real-life experiences and strategies of seasoned developers, planners, and architects.

Highlights

Covers a wide variety of multifamily housing types and locations including garden, townhouse and high-rise project types, affordable and high-end price ranges, new, rehab, historic preservation, and adaptive reuse properties, urban and suburban locations, niche products such as student, military, and seniors housing

Includes practical, how-to information on the multifamily housing development process such as market analysis, site selection, feasibility, financing, planning, design, regulations, marketing, operations, and management.

Provides 14 illustrated case studies of successful projects that cover the site history and challenges, feasibility and financing, planning and design, marketing/leasing, experience gained, project costs, rental prices, and schedule. ... Read more

Book Description

Whether you have one unit or one hundred, this book will give you the legal and practical information you need to comply with your state's laws, find and keep good tenants, and avoid legal trouble.

A Nolo bestseller, Every Landlord's Legal Guide shows you how to:

*screen and choose prospective tenants *write a legal rental agreement or lease *hire a property manager *deal with problem tenants *understand repair, maintenance and security responsibilities *avoid lawsuits *comply with laws regarding security deposits, privacy, discrimination, senior housing, habitability and much more

The completely revised 7th edition provides updated state-by-state legal charts on everything from security deposit rules to termination for nonpayment of rent. All forms provided as tear-outs and on CD-ROM. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

No Landlord Should Be Without This Guide!
This book is fantastic for the experienced, as well as the inexperienced landlord. It sets out in plain English some of the common legal pitfalls landlords run into and how to avoid them. The books cites examples - some quite frightening - of how these pitfalls occur and the appropriate action to take. The book clearly outlines the differences in particular laws between the states. It explains all aspects of landlord law from finding goods tenants to dismissing bad tenants. The book makes a great desk reference and it's cheaper than a lawyer!

I couldn't recommend this book ENOUGH!!!
This book has helped through every step of buying my first investment property. It's like having your own professional standing over your shoulder, reminding you about every detail of every step. The section on insurance alone is completely priceless, pointing out that a landlord needs not just property loss coverage but also personal liability. And not just physical liability, but coverage of potential slander, libel, discrimination, unlawful eviction, invasion of privacy suits... And don't forget loss of rents! It's that kind of detail that maybe someone who's done this before would call 'basic.' But I admit: I am no pro, yet when I called an insurance agent and explained what I wanted coverage for, he said to me, "Um, you've done this before, haven't you?" Thank you, nolo!

The best landlord book bar-none!
This is the only book you need! It is incredibly easy to use and covers everything from rental agreements, to liability and discrimination, to maintenance, to evictions. It really leaves nothing out. The best part is the included CD-ROM which has all of the forms you'll need in an easy-to-fill-in format.
I own five properties and thanks to Every Landlord's Legal Guide I have learned how to legally protect myself and have consequently avoided countless expensive lawsuits. This book could end up saving you thousands!

A MUST!
This is the best landlord book! You have to get it. The CD ROM contains everything I use to manage my properties and be a good landlord. It makes property management and landlording so rewarding and easy than any person could succeed at it if they follow this book's guidelines.

I own 3 properties so far and this book has made my success possible!

Plain and simple...
the definitive legal guide. Accompanied with "Landlording, A Handymanual...etc" its all you need. ... Read more

Book Description

If you own rental property, you should be taking advantage of the many tax write-offs available. Every Landlord's Tax Deduction Guide gives residential landlords the plain-English guide they need to save money on taxes -- without the services of a high-priced accounting firm.

This book explains how to maximize your deductions. Find out how to:

*fill out IRS Schedule E *take real estate tax credits *figure out if an expense is a repair (deductible) or an improvement (depreciable) *maximize your depreciation deductions *deduct losses arising from real estate ownership *keep proper tax records *deduct home office, travel, casualty losses and much more

Every Landlord's Tax Deduction Guide is comprehensive yet easy to read, jam packed with interesting and relevant examples. ... Read more

Book Description

The definitive guide to mortgage-backed securities --now revised and updated

The classic -- and single best -- resource for understanding and trading mortgage-backed securities has been brought fully up to date with The Handbook of Mortgage-Backed Securities, Fifth Edition, giving you timely insights into everything from fundamentals to investment characteristics of mortgage-backed securities, as well as state-of-the-art strategies for capitalizing on opportunities.

The Handbook’s seven sections bring you up to speed on mortgages and pass-through securities; stripped mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations; credit-sensitive mortgage-backed securities; prepayment modeling; valuation techniques, relative value analysis, and portfolio strategies; commercial mortgage-backed securities; and non-U.S. mortgage-backed securities.

This edition is more than just a revised edition – it’s practically a new book: twenty-nine of the chapters are either new or have been substantially revised, reflecting the most recent developments in the mortgage-backed securities market, in terms of both product development and financial technology. These entirely new sections give you a seamless transition into the 24-hour, global financial markets of the 21st century. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Excellent but Compiled Work
I have seven years of experience selling these products, and I use Fabozzi's book often. This is a good reference, and a good treatment of mortgage and asset backed securities. I only gave it four stars because the fact that this is a compiled work of research material interrupts the flow of ideas. On the other hand, there is some merit to getting different angles on the subject from different viewpoints.

One caveat. Mortgage derivatives used to mean calls and puts on mortgage backed securities. Today, however, entire portfolios of mortgage risk are laid off in the form of credit derivatives.

Tavakoli has the best treatment of that topic in the book: "Credit Derivatives".

A major reference
A vast collection of articles by practitioners on Wall Street, this book covers a broad number of topics on Mortgage Backed Securities. While not a scholarly approach, 'street research' typically aims to educate the fixed income portfolio manager.

Fabozzi handbooks are overrated
It's the industry standard. Everyone has one. It stands alone in its field. And if you're reading this you're probably going to buy regardless of what is written here.

But I've found this book (along with some of the other Fabozzi 'Handbooks') to be overrated. Basically, the format of 30 or so different authors each writing a chapter in the form of an article diminishes the usefulness of the book. There is no narrative, pedagogical or otherwise. The format leads to significant gaps in coverage. The quality of the chapters is uneven, as is the level of detail covered.

Don't misunderstand me -- the Handbook isn't bad, by any strecth of the imagination. It's just not as good as it could be. It has almost no fluff, and all the information in it is good. And the competition is a very slim field. For many things Fabozzi is not only your best choice, it's your only one. ... Read more

Book Description

Whether youre a first-time real estate investor or a seasoned professional, The Complete Guide to Buying and Selling Apartment Buildings helps you map out your future, find apartment buildings at a fair price, finance purchases, and manage your properties. Now revised and expanded, this Second Edition includes tax planning advice, case studies of real acquisitions, and appendixes that add detail to the big picture. Plus, it includes a handy glossary of all the terms investors need to know, helpful sample forms that make paperwork quick and easy, and updated real estate forecasts. With this comprehensive guide at hand youll find profits easy to come by. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Great Book
This was the first book I have purchased on the subject of real estate investing in multi-family properties.I have been and interested in the subject for some time however.

I found the formulas and rules the book includes to be invaluable, and used them to create Excel spreadsheets to quickly analyze the hundreds of multi-family listings available.I found the book to be easy to read and understand.

The basics about multi-family properties
This book is very informative if you are a beginner to the multi family world.For anyone that has already dealt with multi family, then you do not need this book.However, Berges other book, real estate finance is a good review for the seasoned apartment owner.In that book he goes over some key performance and efficiency ratios that everyone should be aware of when dealing with multi family properties.

The book covers the general ideas behind multi family properties but of course it will differ by region slightly.The cap rates that he speaks of are not available in say california but might be available in indiana.Overall a good book for beginners to intermediate but definitely not seasoned investors.

Good beginners read. Beyond NOI and CapRate? Look elsewhere
This book devotes a fair amount of time on valuation from a beginners standpoint. Overall good, easy and quick read. The case studies and examples appear a stretch. The author suggest that the sweet spot is to find a property with 20% vacancy, a few minor cosmetic issues. It then claims that that by leveraging a 80% LTV, the owner, in a short period of time can increase the vale and sell for a healthy premium. Hmmm... I want to see Steve Berges try this in Chicago or New York metro areas.

As a relatively new property investor, I found the book useful and would recommend to others. I purchased and downloaded the software at thevalueplay.com which is adequate to complement the book's instruction bias. However, buyers beware, these are password protected Excel spreadsheets with macros and without the ability to add formulas, change things here and there, they are useless.

5 Stars for Berges' 5 Keys to Success
Out of all of the real estate books I've read over the years, this is by far one of the better ones.The author stays focused on the topic of buying and selling apartments and does it in a way that is easy to understand.Let me emphasize that when I say the book is easy to understand, that is not meant to imply that only the basics are covered.Not only does Berges do a great job of explaining the mechanics of the process, but he also mixes in a lot of personal examples which help the reader to connect the dots between pie-in-the-sky theory and real world applications.

Steve Berges concludes the book with an inspiring and motivational chapter he refers to as the 5 Keys to Success, which he points out are not limited to just real estate, but can be applied to any business or profession, as well as to one's personal life.I thought this section was very well written and gave me cause to reflect on my own course in life.

I've read several of the author's other books as well, all of which were good, but I particularly enjoyed The Complete Guide to Real Estate Finance for Investment Properties.Wow...what a great read!It's about time somebody wrote a book that really deals with the financial aspects of real estate (see my review).

Unique Insight into Apartment Market
The author, Berges, provides unique insight into investing in apartment buildings.There isn't much written about this topic, and what is, seems to be very generic.This book, however, provided lots of good examples with specific advice on what to do and what not to do.In addition, Berges sprinkles various tidbits of information throughout the book that while not directly related to real estate, are nevertheless quite relevant to being successful in it.I just finished another book of his, The Complete Guide to Investing in Rental Properties, which I also found to be very enjoyable. ... Read more

Book Description

The most widely read and utilized book ever on new home sales.Now in its fifth printing, this is a multi-dimensional systems approach for sales professionals.It details the skills that are required to master the new home sales process. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Just another sales book.
The book is well written and easy to follow, but it is relatively generic. I believe it to be a little over priced for its content.

Not Great!
This book is extremely basic and can be read in about an hour. Hardly worth the price for a 139 page paper back.

This book is success insurance for New Home Sales!
This book is an essential for any person in the New Home Sales market. No matter if you are new to the business or a decade- plus verteran, this practical and direct approach to new home sales (when followed to the "T") will guarantee extraordinary results! ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Outstanding !!!
I have read all 3 editions of this book over the last 25 years, with outstanding results ( The 1959 "How I Turned $1,000 into One Million Edition", the 1969 "How I Turned $1,000 into Three Million Edition" and the 1980 "How I Turned $1,000 into Five Million Edition ")

I strongly suggest the How I Turned $1,000 into Five Million edition if you can get your hands on one,
written well over 20 years after the original edition it's much harder to find then the previous editions but it's also most up to date and has much more information than the previous editions, well worth the the trouble trying to obtain it since Mr. Nickerson had 20+ years of extra experience in real estate which was reflected in the last edition

Mr. Nickerson was one of the few people who grew richer each year till the day he died in 2000 using the techniques he outlined in his books

A must for every one interested in real estate investing
William Nickerson and his classic book HOW I TURNED $1,000 INTO ONE MILLION IN REAL ESTATE IN MY SPARE TIME has probably created more millionaires than any other book in investing history.

It simply is a masterpiece of common sense advice, no matter what type of investing you are contemplating

What makes Nickerson's book so good?

His writings are crammed full with practical and real guidance on real estate investing with a proven technique for making money that really works.

No get-rich-quick hype. No motivation speeches or excessive cheerleading. No nothing down promises of instant wealth or easy profits.

Just tons of genuine advice real estate investors need to hear.

Nickerson's method of making money in real estate is so common and understood people still speak about "Nickersoning" properties more than forty years after his original book was published in 1959

Nickerson's book is filled with real world advice. He offers readers the same situations they would find in their world. Sample advertisements that could have been pulled out of any newspaper. Reality based properties with defects and flaws often trying to be hidden by their owners. Brokers that try to mislead with phony price estimates and bogus numbers. This is, unfortunately, the way the real estate world really is. It isn't all peaches and cream. Most people are honest but notice I said most, not all.

Contrast this almost cynical approach with the silly advice many real estate books offer readers. Instead of shrewd and often unscrupulous owners attempting to disguise property defects to maximize profits, we meet naive and motivated sellers who will allow buyers without jobs or credit to purchase their property equity on a nothing-down basis. Or better still, even loan these buyers the broker's fee and closing costs to do so! So many real estate courses and gurus offer a world filled with dumb and hypermotivated sellers to show how their techniques would work in theory, but Nickerson prepared readers for what actually exists in the modern real estate world.

Sadly, William Nickerson died in 2000. He wrote books on other subjects but he will always be known for his original 1959 real estate masterpiece and its later revisions which also contain much more infromation then the original like HOW I TURNED $1,000 INTO FIVE MILLION IN REAL ESTATE IN MY SPARE

cool book!
lots of information, good for starter!! cool book!

Reveals the basic formula for creating wealth in real estate
I ran across this book in the early sixties, when one million was in the title, not five million. I used this book to make several million dollars for myself, and taught two friends to use the book, and they also made substantial money. It isn't magic: it simply shows you how real estate wealth is made, and shows you step by step how to do it for yourself. A young friend has just asked me to show him how to do it , and I went to Amazon to see if the book was still available, so that I could steer him to it. That's why I'm here. I am now, at age 62, a real estate developer, and the same rules still apply. The book is simple, basic, and absolutely true. By a strange cooincidence, I knew the appraiser hired by Simon & Shuster to verify that Nickerson had made five million. The appraiser told me that he believed Nickerson had understated his wealth!

Timeless Masterpiece
If you are starting out in residential real estate investment, this book is a must read. Nickerson presents a conservative, realistic scenario for starting small and steadliy building wealth. This is not a get-rich-quick book or one that relies on gimmicks or nothing-down strategies. It shows you stepwise how to build a solid financial foundation in real estate, and how to leverage current assets into more valuable ones. Nickerson's strategy relies on hard work and persistence, not luck, deceit, or the greater-fool theory. There's no need for an updated version of this book; it's principals and approaches to developing wealth are as timeless as compounded interest. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

I TOO USED MR. TIRONE'S HP-12C BOOK TO STUDY FOR THE EXAM
I purchased as much material as I could to help me through the appraisal certification exams, especially so to help me through the books I had to buy! It semed that I kept getting deeper and deeper with each book I purchased, the reviewed book included. I then saw one of my classmate's book on the HP12C, written by a Mr. John A. Tirone from Michigan. I purchased this book and used it to supplement the calculations in Mr. Fisher's questions and answers book as well as his Income Property Appraisal book.
The Tirone HP12C book was clear, comprehensive, and as said by others who have commented on Mr. Tirone's books, I was able to call him with questions on how to solve various income capitalization problems and also on how to fine tune my understanding of the Hewlett packard HP12C financial calculator. To my thinking, every appraisal text I have seen is deficient in assisting us students with the calculations on the HP finance calculators. Mr. Tirone's book and his giving no-charge approach to supporting his books and the topic are essentially lifesavers for most of us.

I used Mr. John A. Tirone's HP-12C Book to get me through th
I used Professional real Estate Propblem Solving using the HP 12C to get me through this confusing book as well as help me get through "G1" and "G2" appraisal's computations materials. What stumped me was the lack of clarity in the Fihser Tosh book as far as computations. for coverage of the HP12C it was a lifesaver to have Mr. Tirone's HP-12C real estate book. Mr. Tirone was helpful as several in our class called him for help while trying to absorb the confusing aspects of the Fisher/Tosh book. Mr. Tirone should write a book like Questions and Answers... or team up with the likes of the authors of the reviewed book.
One example in the Tosh book shows a calculation using a terminal value-sales price of $10,000 when it should be $100,000. This gave us fits and I could not figure the problem out until I called Mr. Tirone and he showed us how to do the problem.

Didn't feel like it helped much but I did pass
I was nervous before this test and I went through and answered every question in the book. The actual test seemed to ask significantly different questions. The result, however, was I passed with over 90 percent. Can you argue with that? It must have helped.

Don't waste your money if you already have the yellow book
If you already have the yellow book "Questions and Answers to help you past the Real Estate Appraisal Exams", don't waste your money purchasing the new book that was put out in 2000. It's the same book - just copy written in October of 2000. I made the mistake of thinking that there would be new questions since 1994, or the questions would at least be asked in a different format, but they are not. Word for word they are the same. So save your money if you already have the yellow book and just study it a little bit harder!

A necessity if you're about to take "the exam".
I just took the certified residential appraisers exam and passed on the first attempt. I do have several years experience, but feel that this study manual gave me the added depth and confidence to pass the exam. (95% correct) Thank You, LWK - Brenham, Texas ... Read more

Book Description

Shopping centers and other forms of retail properties continue to be among the soundest real estate investments in North America. But retail property is a highly specialized field of real estate development with a unique and complex set of legal, financial, development, management, and marketing variables about which investors and developers must possess a sound working knowledge. Now this book arms with you with that knowledge, and much more.

The most comprehensive, authoritative, up-to-date resource of its kind, Shopping Centers and Other Retail Properties covers every vital aspect of negotiating, buying, selling, developing, managing, and marketing shopping centers and other retail properties. Editors John R. White and Kevin D. Gray, of the leading real estate consulting firm Landauer Associates, and an all-star team of experts in the field of shopping center and retail property development, share everything they know about:

• All important legal issues
• Investment and feasibility analysis
• Valuation requirements and performance measures
• Planning, designing, and renovating retail properties
• Developing and investing in local and community shopping centers, highway retail centers, and regionals and super regionals
• Operating and managing retail centers
• Mortgage financing and financing through public and private equity issues
• Space marketing and lease terms
• Macro and micro market analysis
• And much more

Shopping Centers and Other Retail Properties is an indispensable working resource for both new and experienced retail property investors and developers as well as those who work with them, including attorneys, accountants, analysts, appraisers, planners, managers, brokers, and consultants.

"Timely insights into an industry undergoing tremendous change." —

For both newcomers and seasoned professionals in retail property investment, this book provides a wealth of vital information on every aspect of developing and managing shopping centers and retail properties. Written by an all-star team of specialists in the field, Shopping Centers and Other Retail Properties:

• Provides expert guidance on financing, developing, operating, and managing shopping centers and other retail properties
• Covers analysis of retail market demand, investment and feasibility analysis, appraisal, mortgage financing, financing by equity, new planning formats, and much more
• Serves as an indispensable working resource for investors, developers, attorneys, accountants, analysts, appraisers, planners, managers, brokers, and consultants

"An authoritative work that will be immensely useful to anyone interested in retail real estate." —

"Retail developments have become the key investments now targeted in real estate. No two people have commanded more respect for expertise than this book's editors. There are many, many books attempting to guide readers in this field. In my experienced view, none compares to the excellence and usefulness of this text." — ... Read more

Book Description

This best-selling real estate book delivers the proven formula for creating a fast-track career and higher profits in real estate. Discover the trade secrets to building lifelong customers and gaining market share from the first-hand experience of one of real estates most highly regarded professionals.In her dynamic style, Danielle explains how technology will not replace the value of an agent but, instead, has increased the demand for personalized selling.Seize the opportunity to set in motion these NEW basics to your success in real estate. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Great Buy for the New Agent
I thought this was an excellent book. I've read it straight through and now I'm working on the Break-away schedule in the back of the book. As a new agent, it was very helpful to get an honest preview of the work it takes to be successful in this business. My broker said that I was the most prepared of any of the new agents that he'd interviewed with. I have Danielle's book to thank for that. It's worked for me so far, so now I'm going to hit the ground running with her break-away schedule! Worth the money, if you're willing to work it. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

A one-stop reference for in-depth explanations of mortgage topics

With the creation of so many new, complex mortgage programs, it's difficult for consumers --not to mention real estate agents, attorneys, closing agents, and mortgage brokers--to keep track of them all. Written by nationally syndicated real estate columnist Jack Guttentag, The Mortgage Encyclopedia helps readers understand the various mortgage terms, features, and options by offering clear, precise explanations. The alphabetical organization of terms makes it easy to quickly find information on any topic, from FHA, Investor, and No-PMI Loans to Origination Fee and Rate Float. Each entry includes not just a description of the term, but also relevant advice for consumers, such as answers to the questions "Is this loan right for me?" and "Can I negotiate this fee?"

• Guides readers through the bewildering array of new mortgage programs
• Features definitions and explanations of common mortgage, escrow, and closing fees and arcane mortgage terminology

Reviews (11)

the real estate boom is alive and well
Mr. Lerah has written a terrific how to book on the real estate
boom. He describes the facts behind the boom in very compelling
way. A MUST READ 5 STARS

John Smaby
Edina, Mn.

Insightful
This book makes perfect sense It does not allow thinking individuals to become complacent in how they view real estate investments for the future.

"He whose bread I eat is the song I sing"
Go back in time to the year 2000 when the NASDAQ was trading at 5,000. Some people said it was a bubble and couldn't go on forever. Yet the temptation to go with the flow and make was seemed to be easy money was irresistible. Driven by the marketing efforts of those who make their living in the stock market, it was argued that prices would still go higher. If you bought into their line of reasoning, surely NASDAQ 10,000 was not too far away.

I was reminded of those times when I read David Lereah's book "Are You Missing the Real Estate Boom." Even after the biggest 5-year run-up in housing prices in U.S. history - where 40% of all homebuyers must now resort to interest-only adjustable rate mortgages in order to qualify for home financing - Lereah tries to convince us that the U.S. real estate market should continue to stay healthy for the next 10 years.

His arguement goes something like this: Even though housing prices are high, the combination of low interest rates, 80 million wealthy baby boomers and their offspring ("echo boomers") will continue to fuel demand. This is not objective, unbiased advice. As head cheerleader for the Realtor hallelujah choir, Lereah is using the same tactics that have been well-honed on Wall Street: "When the ducks are quackin', feed 'em."

I don't remember what Lereah was saying about U.S. housing prices in 1998 or 1999 when prices were 30% lower than they are today (and 75% lower in many of the highly populated coastal regions), but I think its safe to say he wasn't forecasting a coming real estate boom that would last for the next 15 years.

The key to making money in real estate - and keeping it - is to get aboard a rising real estate trend early, not late. While it is true that real estate is a good long-term investment, what Lereah ignores is the cycle nature of real estate. In other words, if you buy an overvalued house late in the market cycle - and you are over leveraged and illiquid like most Americans are today - you may not be around for the long-term.

Robert Campbell
Author of "Timing the Real Estate Market"

Better title - "Join the Greater Fools of America Club"
For me, this was more comic relief than any scholarly analysis.The author has a vesting interest in the bubble not bursting, and he's selling his soul with this book to prove it.

He spins webs of demographics and interest rates, but he never ever addresses the core issues that determine housing values.What is lost here is that housing in itself creates no value, its value is completely predicated upon peoples ability to pay for it.Ergo, housing prices for the last 100 years have tracked income remarkably closely, that is, except for the last five years.Historically, the ratio of housing price to annual income has been 2.1, with very little variation.In many parts of the country, this ratio is now approaching 10.5!Can you say "major correction?"Further, the amount of leverage used to buy homes during this boom has been increased to absolutely unprecidented levels.Even during the last boom of the late 80s/early 90s, the standard was still 30 yr fixed and 20% down.Not anymore.Last year, less than 15% of borrowers put down 20% or more!Further, the 30 yr fixed has been replaced by the IO, or interest only loan.See now, we have the same borrower capable of bidding 30-40% more for a propery without any better credit or ability to repay.Neat trick, but sadly, Lereah at no point addresses any of these fundamentals.

Our stock/housing pattern appears remarkably similar to the one Japan had 20 years ago.First the stock market busted.Right after, the real estate market rallied, and it busted too.The current Japanese real estate market is in a 14 year slide to date, and houses are going for roughly their 1980 value.

Keep talking Dave - we'll need the comic relief soon!

More Cheerleading From the NAR "Economist"
It is a little worrisome to think that so many investors learned nothing form the speculative bubble that was built up in the stock markets, particularly the Nasdaq.When it comes to residential housing, this is simply Act II being engineered by Alan Greenspan, the person most responsible for Act I (the stock market speculative bubble).People fell in love with residential housing ("very safe, good") immediately after they fell out of love with stocks ("too risky, bad").Coincidence? I think not.Books like this one serve only to fan the flames of a fire that is roaring out of control- especially along the coasts.Shame on you Mr. Blodget, er, I mean Mr. Lereah! ----Instead of this self serving new era garbage, read the recently released Irrational Exuberance, Second Edition by Robert Shiller if you want an easy to read balanced account of what is REALLY going on in residential real estate right now.It might save you thousands upon thousands of your hard-earned dollars if it cautions you against joining the home-speculating heard. ... 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

In Buy It, Fix It, Sell It...Profit!, real estate investor and rehabbing expert Kevin Myers presents all-new insights on how to create a quick turnaround in your investments by renovating properties for profit.

Beginning and experienced real estate investors will benefit from the new and improved real estate rehabbing techniques to develop a high-profit, low-overhead business.This expanded edition discusses property inspection, tax issues, funding projects, andmaximizing profits.Buy It, Fix It, Sell It...Profit! is a hands-on guide sprinkled with inspirational stories for those who want to create a financially secure future. ... Read more

Reviews (42)

Beginners: this is your book.
I read "Flipping Properties" by William Bronchik and Robert Dahlstrom and I wish I hadn't even read it, let alone bought it. This book by Kevin Meyers is much, much, much better for beginning investors. It tells you what you need to know without delving into a bunch of pretentious real estate legal and technical jargon that's only designed to confuse and intimidate the reader like Bronchik and Dahlstrom's book. Also, this writer actually knows how to write linear paragraphs which is something those other two clowns could really use a lesson in. I highly recommend this book for the beginner who wants to generate some instant cash profits in real estate. If you read Bronchik and Dahlstrom's book and you don't know much about real estate, you're gonna get to the end of it thinking "I'll never be able to do this." Instead, read this book by Meyers. It's better, it's written better, it's more readable, it's more comprehendible, it's everything that other piece o' crap isn't. Get it.

Good deal for $13.97!
I just got done reading this book and learned a lot from it. Though I have yet to purchase a home, the buy-fix-sell strategy advocated in this book seems to be the way to go as compared to the buy-[fix]-rent-[sell] strategy in "Investing in Real Estate, Fourth Edition," (the other real estate investing book I bought along with this one). This book was easy to read and was not unnecessarily complicated. The author seems to be writing from experience and offers many practical insights. I feel that the one major drawback of this book was that it does not cover seller financing in enough detail, therefore it's not possible for me to apply seller financing techniques without getting assistance from another source. For that reason I'm only giving the book 4 stars. For $13.97, this book is definitely worth it!

On a related note, I'm more than ½ way done reading "Investing in Real Estate, Fourth Edition" and I would suggest that a beginner to real estate NOT read it. It uses too many uncommon terms that are not predefined. And worse off it doesn't even offer a glossary. Also, one of the authors is a PhD, so I guess he likes to throw a lot of formulas around. Even though they are simple formulas, I think it's just totally unnecessary to use them so often. I actually started reading this book first, then got tired of it and started reading "Buy It, Fix It, Sell It: PROFIT!." What a difference in writing styles! I'm going to eventually finish this book just to broaden my knowledge, though so far I feel that the buy-[fix]-rent-[sell] strategy in this book has too many liabilities for what it's worth.

Practical
As other reviewers have said, this is written for the layman. Maps the flipping process out and tells you how to do it in easy to understand language. A great starter book. Covers what to look for, working with an R.E. agent, appraisals, foreclosures, purchasing for cash(and how to get it), using private morgage lenders(the hard stuff!),negotiating, inspection, renovation, hiring contractors, and how to sell quickly for top dollar. The final chapter delves into some more advanced strategies. I'm just now getting into "flipping" books and this is one of the best.

ONLY for the complete newbie
This is the first book I've bought solely on the praise of other reviewers. It is also the first book I have ever returned in the four years I've been buying from Amazon. Wow! What a complete disappointment!

Buy it, Fix it, Sell it: Profit! should only be bought by people who have never read ANYTHING regarding buying houses, fixing them up, and selling for profit. I read the free e-book from David Whisant while waiting for this book to arrive...The e-book contained more information and went more in-depth into the topics than this book did.

I have never written a completely negative review before, so here goes: this book is well written and laid out. Having said that, I think that ten minutes spent at google will provide you with a couple of good sites that give more information than this book does.

Not bad, looking forward to a less dated edition...
Anyone spending the enormous amount of money needed to buy property can't frown at $13 for a reference book, if they can glean anything from the book. This guy definitely isn't a writer but the book did contain some good tips. Do yourself a favor and make sure you buy the newest addition - I picked up the '97 and it was extremely dated. My other issue with this book is he uses examples with very unrealistic dollar figures, even if adjusted for inflation. Do you think you're going to buy a $100,000 "handyman special" and renovate it until it's in "doll house/sparkling condition", with that renovation to include a new roof, updated baths, complete kitchen remodel, paint, carpet and landscaping...all for $9,000? Good luck. The roof alone could cost that much and certainly the kitchen is going to run more than $1800 if you're replacing cabinets; even if you were to buy the cheapest of the cheap materials and do the work yourself, in which case the end result would look cheap. To his credit, he harps on the fact that you need to do your homework and estimate all the rehab costs to build them into your offer price - but if you're new to this don't get sticker shock when your estimates for all the above items come in more in the $25,000 neighborhood. One thing I tend to disagree with is his contention that you shouldn't even consider doing the work yourself. If you're starting out and building relationships with subcontractors I think an advanced do-it-yourselfer can do almost anything, you have so many resources available to you with Home Depot, TV and the internet. The key would be getting things done quickly, so maybe farming out the time consuming and dangerous work is okay, but you can do the other stuff yourself much cheaper. Of course, after a few houses and once you've got a HVAC guy you trust, a plumber and electrician you trust and possibly drywall and paint guys you trust, you might take the advice of the book and spend your time looking for the next house.

I did find this book useful enough that I'll be buying the 2003 edition today, you just need to look at it as another resource and not the rehabber bible. ... Read more