Book Description

Generate instant cash profits by finding and buying bargain properties, then rapidly reselling them for a profit.Learn how to find and buy bargain properties, then rapidly resell ("flip") them for a profit, without a large cash outlay, a perfect credit record, or even a real estate license.

It's estimated that real estate has made more millionaires than any other financial vehicle.In Flipping Properties, veteran real estate investors and workshop presenters William Bronchick and Robert Dahlstrom explain how to find and buy bargain properties, then rapidly resell ("flip") them for a profit, without a large cash outlay, a perfect credit record, or even a real estate license.Designed as a guide for both experienced and beginning investors, they offer strategies for locating and negotiating deals on profitable properties, as well as renovating, financing and selling those properties for a healthy cash profit. ... Read more

Reviews (56)

It's fluffy, not stuffy!
I purchased this book expecting to learn all about how to flip real estate properties. Although the author, Bronchick, does touch on the subject, I was disappointed by the book's lack of depth and substance. Bronchick barely addresses the real aspects involved in flipping and discusses real estate in theory only, meaning that I couldn't find a single real life example of how he himself flipped a property. The book is only 154 pages, is loosely written, and has little substance. One example of filler in the book is "What is a Realtor?" Bronchick writes almost half a page defining what a realtor is. Maybe there honestly are people who don't know what a realtor is, but as I said, much of the book comes accross as being of little substance.

Another book on the same subject that in my opinion is far superior to Bronchick's is one written by Steve Berges called The Complete Guide to Flipping Properties. In addition to citing many personal examples, Berges also includes many inspiring stories, which I found to be particularly enjoyable.

Flipping real estate made easy and legal
If you're interested in flipping real estate, or the quick buying and selling of property then this is the place to start. Author Bronchick, a Colorado Attorney is an very qualified investor who draws on his experiences buying and selling property and that of his clients and associates. Flipping has recently gotten notoriety from fraudulent activities of false appraisals and other fraudulent activities. The Authors tell you how to work as a flipper and do it legally. There is a glossary in the book as well as 5 appendices listig good deal checklist, sample ads, sample forms, state foreclosure guide, and internet sources. The text of the book is 154 pages and the glossary/appendices are another 55 pages. You may not find everything about flipping in this book, but this is the best place to start if you want to flip real estate, or even if your just curious to fid out more about the business. I for one would have liked to see more depth and more information about flipping in this book.

Best Bang for the Buck!
This book reads very well and contains a lot of practical ideas. I have been investing in real estate for about 10 years and have read a lot of books, most of them hype and fluff. You won't find anything but solid, good advice here, despite the "instant riches" hype in the title.

The book starts out by covering the difference between legal and illegal flipping, an issue commonly misunderstood by real estate brokers and lenders. It then goes on to cover real estate law, finding motivated sellers, drafting contracts, negotiating, estimating rehabs, and funding deals. It wraps up with a nice chapter on the real estate business, going full-time vs. part-time, etc. Lot of bang for the buck.

I've done quite a bit of flipping of properties, and this book really hits the highlights of the process right on the mark. Keep in mind that some lenders (particularly FHA) are not as cooperative in lending on properties that have been flipped recently. This is backlash on the dark side of the business, the fraudulent activities of a few bad seeds. This book, however, will keep on you on the straight and narrow - definitely a must read.

Highly recommended for beginning investors!
I am an experienced real estate broker, and I was looking for a good text to recommend to my beginning investor clients - this is it! The book reads very well, considering the vast amount of technical information about deeds, contracts, escrow, title, etc. No hype in this book, just practical, ethical information about the "quick turn" real estate business. Some very good sample forms are included in the appendix as well. If you are getting started as an investor, this one should be on your list of MUST-READ books!

Weak
Just a gloss over. Offers some weak advice. Look for the worst house in the best neighborhood - ????? Everybody and their dog does that, and how many ratty houses are there in good neighborhoods? For a book like this to be worth anything it needs to offer advice you cant get elsewhere. Try "Fast Cash" by LeGrand for better. ... Read more

Book Description

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

Reviews (4)

Forget about it
As mentioned by other reviewers - This book has many typos and incomplete sentences that don't make sense. The diagrams in the book are so grainy that they're almost useless. The material content of the book is not detailed and only barely scrapes the surface of the most important items. My suggestion - forget about this one!

The Bible of Home Inspection
If your serious about a career in home inspection or your curious about how your home works, this is the book. Well thought out and full of information on the systems, components and construction of your home.

Mildly Disappointed
When one pays for a book, one expects to receive something a little special. The subject matter is, of course, limited to a small target population, resulting in limited distribution and higher unit cost. Having said that, no matter what the cost, one does not expect to encounter typos or incomplete sentences and topics, as found in this book. On page 75, for example, the last sentence in the left column reads "Wall sectons are" and that's the end of the thought, the topic ends there! The new topic, Platform Framing, begins in the right colum of that same page. Also, some of the illustrations are not completely clean and clear, like they've been copied on the copy machine too many times. I almost expect a hardbound edition with color photos or illustrations. What justifies this book costing more than most of its competition? Yes, I'm happy to add it to my library. No, I don't consider it a good value. And, once again, typos and omissions are unforgiveable. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Mastering Home Inspection
This book is very well thought out. It is extremely detailed yet easy to comprehend.

It definitely makes you aware of how important it is to know what you are looking for during an inspection, how to protect yourself against lawsuits, and what is required to start a business. A definite two thumbs up! ... Read more

Book Description

From the BusinessWeek bestselling author of Investing in Fixer-Uppers--a plan for building a real estate empire with little or no money down "

Fixer Jay" DeCima, the acknowledged king of fixer-uppers, delivers a much-anticipated guide to realizing financial independence through real estate investing. Written in DeCima's trademark folksy style, Start Small, Profit Big in Real Estate provides a complete two-year plan for making it big in real estate starting with little or no money of your own.

• You'll learn how to:
• Scout out properties with the highest return
• Calculate the payoff versus the effort involved in any real estate investment
• Find motivated sellers who will finance your properties
• Use leveraging and compounding to utmost advantage
• Negotiate with sellers and win every time
• Make big bucks with rental properties

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

Reviews (7)

Solid
Cummings is one of my favorite R.E. authors. He is very thorough. This one has chapters on conventional and creative financing, tax exchanges, land development, discounting mortgages, sale-leasebacks, how to get started and even dealing with foreclosure. Table of contents is very thorough and makes it very easy to go to the exact page you want to to find specific information. He is good with the numbers and doesnt leave much to the imagination like many authors do. I recommend anything by this author.

Excellent "Creative Real Estate Financing" manual
This "no-nonsense" book, by a seasoned investor and broker, is mostly focused on non-traditional real estate financing vehicles. Bits and pieces on the subject have previously taught by various gurus, but this book covers ALL of them. If every Realtor and investor read this, we would all be better off.

Other recommended RE investing reads:

The Unofficial Guide to Real Estate Investing
Landlording by Leigh Robinson
5 Magic Paths to Making a Fortune In Real Estate Investing
The Income Stream by Robt. Goodman

Solid, comprehensive, but a bit verbose
This and Landlording, by Leigh, are my two fave's so far as a real estate investor. This one tends towards overkill with many, many examples but other readers may want that more than I did. There are one or two strategy recommendations I disagree with rather heartily, but it's clear, pretty much accurate, and very readable. The no-nonsense writing reminds me a bit of T. Dallow or J. Reed, both also recommended.

Great book, but overpriced
Great book, easy to read, too pricy

Good for individual investors, less useful for professionals
Focused on real estate deals in the <$2MM category, this book offers a treasure trove of helpful tips about how to work the angles to create maximum wealth from real estate investing. Especially useful are sections on goal-setting, negotiating, dealing with banks, and secondary financing.

The book is less useful for development professionals dealing with larger developments such as office buildings, apartment communities, etc, as it omits extended discussion of the institutional players. Both individuals and development professionals will find Zuckerman, Real Estate Investment and Acquisition Workbook a useful adjunct, with development professionals perhaps more intested in Brueggeman & Fisher, Real Estate Finance and Investments than this offering. ... Read more

Book Description

Strategies for lifelong, tax-free second home ownership

This book explains how to invest profitably in a vacation or future retirement home. Featuring success stories from second home buyers and often-overlooked financing options, How a Second Home Can Be Your Best Investment provides dozens of strategies and proven how-to avenues for finding the perfect home that will eventually pay for itself. Real estate experts Tom Kelly and John Tuccillo show readers how to save thousands through exchanges and exemptions and include valuable Web resources for both second home buyers and real estate investors. Readers will discover how to:

• Choose a second home and location with maximum appreciation potential
• Use a vacation home as a cash cow rental
• Subdivide a property
• Minimize the hassle factor of an investment --while maximizing rental income

Reviews (2)

Portable Real Estate Strategy is THE Solution for the Future
Tom Kelly and John Tuccillo have hit a GRAND SLAM with simply THE BEST and MOST CURRENT book on buying a second home. The have defined a new concept in real estate: how to make a real estate investment or a second home "portable." It will certainly become real estate's "bible for second homes" and is a MUST READ for buyers, investors and real estate sales pros alike. We are about to embark on the greatest transfer of wealth in the history of the world coupled with baby boomers retiring -- a recipe for EXPLOSIVE GROWTH in second home purchases. Kelly and Tuccillo show how our tax laws can work to everyone's advantage and how a real estate investment and change as one's needs and goals change. No info-mercial here: just easy-to-read and digest facts and examples by two of the real estate industry's most reputable writers and scholars. If you know anyone in the business or know someone thinking about buying a second home or other real estate investment -- buy them this book (and buy yourself one too). There simply is no better way to build wealth in America than through real estate investments.

A terrific book!
This book is meticulously written by two extremely sauvy real estate professionals who cover every aspect of second home ownership and show how one additional property can serve a variety of purposes over time (investment, recreation, retirement). They show how real estate can become "portable" - it can move with you, tax free, through your life while compounding your nest egg. It is a must have book for anyone considering purchasing a second home and might even induce those who hadn't considered this option, to look for a second home as a great investment as an alternative to the uncertain financial markets. ... Read more

Book Description

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

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

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

Book Description

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

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

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

Seize the opportunity and watch the money roll in

Don’t be paralyzed by fear of making mistakes and losing money. Buying a rental house should be one of the safest investments you make, and you already have the skills you need to succeed. You just need to learn how to use them.

In How to Succeed and Make Money with Your First Rental House, Douglas Keipper tells the true story of how he overcame his fear of real estate investing and made money on his first rental house. Keipper uses his experience as an example as he walks you step by step through the entire process of buying, renovating, renting, and managing a rental house. And you’ll learn from his mistakes, not your own! Find out how easy it is to supplement your income with the most popular investment vehicle in the country. Let Keipper show you how to:

• Prequalify for low-cost loans
• Connect with the right loan broker, realtor, and subcontractors
• Find the right house at the right price and make a great deal
• Save money on renovations that produce higher rents
• Find and qualify top-quality tenants
• Protect your investment with the right lease and always get paid on time

Reviews (1)

This one will get you off the sideline and into the game
I can't count the books I bought and did not finish reading. I just finished this one. Doug is a common guy, just like most of the rest of us. He quit studying and got in the game, and he "hit a stand-up-double" on his first at bat! No home runs, No strike outs, No sugar coating, No tales of how he made millions in real estate, or learned how, but did not do it after CPA school. Doug tells the things he did right that you may want to copy. He tells the mistakes he made and how you can avoid them. Doug writes from a perspective that the guy with 10 rental houses already forgot. If you don't have a rental house yet, but you want one, there is no better place to start. If you already have five rental houses and want fifteen, buy a different book. This author gives practical advice and writes in a manner anybody can understand. Sideline critics are a dime a dozen - and they will scare you into staying on the sideline with them. Buy Dougs book and get in the game. ... 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

Book Description

Everything you need to know to begin acquiring properties––now!

No matter what obstacles you think you face, real estate still offers you multiple money making opportunities. In The Beginner’s Guide to Real Estate Investing, successful investor and author Gary Eldred presents the tools and knowledge new investors need to get started. This no-hype guide presents case studies of people just like you–regular people who used these simple, smart strategies to earn big returns. You’ll not only gain the basics of real estate investing, but also a vault full of specialized techniques that the pros rely on to grow their long-term wealth. Concise yet comprehensive, this practical guide shows you how to:

• Find below-market deals
• Invest using little or none of your own cash
• Use low or no down payment seller financing
• Find creative ways to finance your investments
• Make money with foreclosures and REOs
• Increase the value of an investment property
• Negotiate a winning purchase offer
• Manage rentals hassle free
• Flip properties for fast profit

In addition, Eldred shows you how to tailor your investment strategy to make money in any place in any type of market. With proven techniques and timeless principles, The Beginner’s Guide to Real Estate Investing is the prime resource you need to start building a prosperous future–today. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Gigantic value
Usually, when I buy an "intro to the subject' book I seem to find a general guide of (almost) obvious dos and don'ts. Not this book. It covers the territory of real estate investing with dozens of specific pointers backed up with examples. Great detail on financing, buying at a bargain price, and increasing the value of a property. Easy-to-read writing style plus lots of whitespace, headings, and boxed major points for quick scanning. All in all a gigantic value for a mere $10 or $11 bucks. I think even pros (as well as first-timers) could profit by reading this info-packed "how to" guide. ... Read more

Book Description

America’s bestselling real-estate expert offers a highly practical, reader-friendly guide to selling your home quickly and for the best price—in any market.

In 50 Simple Steps You Can Take to Sell Your Home Faster and for More Money in Any Market, Ilyce Glink takes home sellers through the process of readying their homes for sale, offering inside tips and expert advice about how to get the most value from any house or apartment in the shortest time possible. Inside you’ll find:

• Rules every seller should live by
• Mistakes every home seller makes—but can easily avoid
• Steps you have to take before you sell, including great ideas for keeping
your house ultraclean and organized
• Room-by-room improvements—including the basement, attic, garage,
and the exterior—that will add instant value to your home
• Information on timing your sale
• Inside advice on pricing your house
• Tips for navigating the paperwork and closing documents ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Simple-to-read tips....
I checked several books out of the library on this subject, but this is the only one I read cover to cover. It is a breeze to read. The writer adds examples from her own experience which are interesting and keep it from being a dry how-to book. The tips are very straightforward and useful. Maybe some of the steps are common sense, such as cleaning and de-cluttering the house for sale, but she adds some extra tips, such as the best place to quickly stash your junk mail & other clutter before a showing (where won't they look?). Many of the tips focus on less obvious aspects of selling, such as what wording to look out for before signing a listing contract. I appreciate the fact that the author recommends honesty to home sellers - fix or disclose problems with the house rather than covering them up. Most home inspectors will find everything anyway, and a seller who seems to be hiding something will raise red flags with buyers. I found it to be an enjoyable and helpful book. ... Read more

Book Description

Veteran construction contractor, and building trades authority, R. Dodge Woodson shows how to profitably transform raw land into housing.This practical guide covers every phase of the land development process as well as essential business practice fundamentals.

NEW TO THIS EDITION: finding and selling property via the Internet, more information on finance and insurance issues, the latest in land ordinances and runoff issues and EPA requirements

Contents: Why Should I Get Into Land Development? * Can I Really Do It? *The Development Team and Selecting the Viable Project * Finding Hidden Treasure *Tying Up Land Without A Full Commitment * Having Your Experts Do Preliminary Checks *Going Over the Ground, From Top to Bottom *Planning On Paper * Storm Water Drainage *Deciphering the Dirt Water Requirements *Land Lost and Costs for Roads *Flood Zones *Location, Location, Location *Plans and Specifications *Getting Developer Bids • Sales Projections * Financing *Zoning • Closing Your Land Deal *Insurance and Subcontractor Needs *Rolling Out the Big Rigs and Site Supervision * Keeping Your Projects on Time and on Budget *A Marketing Plan and Sales Team *New Projects ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Intro to development that could be half as long
A fairly useful overview that describes the issues a developer has to address, but not much about how to address them. For some reason the author tends to repeat himself. He says something and then restates it. He makes the same point twice.

He also tends to be rather vague: "Some aspects of site supervision can be dealt with in many ways. Some ways are more cost-effective than others." The book is full of statements like this.

I have found the book useful to help me identify issues that I need to think about, but if you are looking for answers--this book isn't for you. It should be titled, "What to Expect as a Land Developer."

great start
Woodson doesn't tell the reader how to survey, do his/her own drawings, tell how to design a curb and gutter system. I didn't expect him to! He does walk you through how to get started on the path to be a land developer, including who and/or where to go for the details you will need to get further information, as well as the long list of subjects and details the potential developer needs to consider and explore.

Disappointed reader
This is the worst 'How To' book I have ever read...The author never makes a definitive statement about anything. Instead he says you could do this or that, hire someone or do it yourself, blah blah blah. He rambles on about the same subjects repetitively to fill up the pages. I feel like I have not learned anything of any use after reading the entire book. What a major disappointment!

Dissapointing
I am more than half way through the book and am finding it difficult to continue. The author continues to list the steps of the development process, but with each step he fails to explain how to perform each step or give case examples of how it was done in a particular development. Instead he says "you can hire a professional to do this step if you like." If you do not know how to perform a function, and you hire a professional to perform it for you, a) how can you make any money? and b) how can you be sure that your professional is performing the function correctly? So far this book has been a major dissapointment.

good starting point
Overall this is a good book to get started in land development buy I wish there were more actual examples taking you through all different problems and situations that could arise. ... Read more

Book Description

Loopholes of the Rich helps Americans from all walks of life use the same tax loopholes that the wealthy use to lower their tax bill. With this handy guide, you wont need an accountant to find quick and easy ways to pay less. And theres nothing unethical about these tax loopholes. In fact, the government wants you to take advantage of them! These tax-reducing tactics and strategies can give you the freedom to save for your familys future or for your own financial independence. Plus, youll find a handy checklist of more than 300 business deductions, real-life tax strategy examples, useful sample forms, explanations of IRS codes and rules, and much more. ... Read more

Reviews (40)

Read it and weep
This book makes a lot of assumptions.It assumes that the reader is EXTREMELY well versed in corporate tax advantages.It assumes that the reader already owns a corporation.It assumes that the book will be read with a dictionary of financial terms close at hand.(It should be.The book is poorly written, with key terms lacking adequate defenition.)I support the Rich Dad series.It is a great way for a beginner to get their feet wet.This book assumes that the reader can already swim!Even the seasoned incorporator would probably not be pleased with this book.Tell you what, if you are considering buying this book, save yourself some money and just send me ten bucks.I'll then call you (on my own dime) and summarize the book for you.Oh, what the heck, I'll do it now, for free...surround yourself with a competent team of advisors.

Too much fluff & bad advice on MLMs
First on the fluff:

Ted and Ellen "story" adds about 40 pages of fluff just to give you a narrative of introducing time elements and slides detailing the pictures she is telling.40 extra pages for this purpose is bad.Save the 40 pages and we'd have a thinner, more "manual" approach.

Now on the MLMs:

What she doesn't tell you:

a) 98% of MLM participants fail (e.g., lose money)
b) Some of the people "telling you you can't do it" might be right!

She goes into the whole spiel about how if they haven't tried it, don't listen to them.Well, take it from every person whose been victimized by MLMs....they DO NOT WORK!

c) All the examples in the appendix of people she's helped use "MLM Opportunity".She purposely uses "opportunity" when sane people would say "Scheme".

Now then, other than those 2 issues, it's a fine review of business structures: S-Corp, C-Corp, Limited and General Partnerships, and Sole Props (to a degree LLCs as well). But you can search google.com and find this all out.

C-Corp: don't hold assets as personal suits can get at C-Corp assets...so she wants you to make the C-Corp a limited partner in a partnership....this is all over the internet..you don't need the book for that.

Be fair to yourself...try looking up MLM or Multi Level Marketing on the internet before buying this book.

mandatory for anyone who works for themselves
7 months ago, i graduated from college. two months ago, i was presented a business proposal. i was inches away from rejecting it, so i could find a "career" working for someone else. but thanks to this book, i am focusing on working for myself.

this book goes beyond common sense. i think i have great common sense, but this book is about strategy, which you don't learn from the public school system, your parents, even most of your college courses.

there are very detailed, interactive plans layed out in the book. there are financial sheets you can fill out to find where you are today, and where you want to be in the future. there are a list of questions to ask potential advisors. each chapter even summarizes itself, so if you're skeptical, scan the summaries at your local book store before you buy.

if you work part-time as an avon lady, you need this book. if you work in multi-level marketing, or opened a coffee shop, you need this book. this book is for anyone who spend at least 4-6 hours a week developing "self-employed" income.

Don't waste money unecessarily ontaxes
This is a great book for simplifying our understanding about taxes.I enjoyed it very much, got some great ideas.I also enjoyed More Wealth without Risk by Charles Givens when it was released.

Not only the rich pay less in taxes!
I am continually amused when I hear people say that only the Rich get the tax breaks and the poor and the middle class have to "pick up the slack."The fact is, if you are paying too much in taxes, whose fault is it? In this outstanding work, Lechter and Kiyosaki lay out numerous strategies to substantially reduce your taxes. And by the way, reducing taxes is not only morally and ethically right, it is also smart.The biggest expence we pay is taxes. Use this book to plug up the dike on excess tax spending.Other books I recommend are More Wealth Without Risk, Brilliant Deductions and How to Pay Zero Taxes in 2003. ... Read more

Book Description

This bible of the landlording business has provided information about the proper way to conduct business and has shepherded landlords through inevitable day-to-day woes for 25 years. This latest edition is thoroughly updated with an expanded section on using the Internet, covering everything from shopping for supplies to setting market rents and advertising cheaply. More than 50 forms are included. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Excellent guide for beginners.
I read this book for a research paper and was surprised that I became interested in becoming a landlord. It is clear and understandable. It offers all the necessary forms for tenants and also ways to document property condition, remove tenants, etc. A must for landlords!

Landlords, you need this book.
This book covers everything I wanted it to, and even all the stuff I didnt think of. To make it very simple; buy the package deal where you get this and NOLO'S Lanlords Legal Guide and your done. I am just beginning as a landlord, and these books have saved me hours of searching on the internet. Not to mention that this book is written in a style that makes it fun to read. Truly worth the money.

THE BEST!!
I have scoured the internet and the local book stores for books on this subject, and I have found this one to be the best by far. The format is VERY user friendly. It is filled with enough information to satisfy people who are currently in the business but easy enough for a beginner (such as myself) to understand. Trust me, you want this book, but you should also have another one that is specific to your locale. This book gives you everything you need to know EXCEPT the local laws and regulations that are specific to your state/city.

Very Informative, tons of information.
I recently (within the past 6 months) acquired a rental property, and the book has helped me manage my properties better and had many many excellent tips. His advice is pretty candid- he tells you its ok to say no and be a little bit heavy handed. He has many anectodes as example scenarios to drive his points home. His main focus is on finding good tenants, and leases, as it should be, since they are the source of your revenue. In addition, he discusses many easily implementable ways to increase your profits, especially if you have multiple properties. The book tries to be the one book you will need to be a landlord, and achieves that goal. However, you may find that some of his discussions topics are overly long (IE dealing with pets, waterbeds) and some not long enough (IE legal/liability issues). It is on the issue of law that you will NEED another reference, but nothing short of an entire book or library of books will properly inform you of all the legal issues involved.

The cons of the book is that it seemed to be a bit overly long. For example there is about 20 pages of comic strips at the end of the book that I suppose are supposed to be humorous ways to convery things to your tenants (like paying rent) but I found them to be completely useless. The forms included are nice, but they would be far more useful if they were included on a CD. If you really want to be a better landlord, you would be far better off printing new forms w/ your name on them, and not distributing photocopies- This brings me to my next weakness. Some parts of the book push his other products a bit too much. He sells forms on CD ...and a program he wrote to manage properties ...and he mentions them a bit too much in the book for me to say that he is being completely objective. If he eliminated the 20 pages of comics and 30 pages of forms, it would have been quite cost effective for him to distribute all of those things on a CD. In addition, the chapter on computers could probably be omitted. The information was outdated on the first day of printing, bores those born since 1975 who have had to learn to use them, and on top of that does not really inform the target reader enough to the point where they could effectively use one. He should have raised the bar a little and targeted those already familiar w/ office suites on how to make useful databases, word processor templates of the forms, and advanced spreadsheets.

The book has a focus squarely on property management. Do not buy this book if you are looking for how to evaluate a property, or estimate cashflow. Landlording covers the ART of property management, not the science of analyzing the potential income of a property.

Do not let the negatives discourage you. I mention them because most Amazon reviews tend to all be "5 stars! this book was great!" Overall, this book is excellent, and the best I found at the bookstore on managing property. The book appears a little bit 'no frills' and does not have much shelf appeal( IE pretty layout and pictures), but the information contained inside is the invaluable experience of someone who has successfully managed over 200 properties.

The absolute BEST, accept NO substitute!
I just finished reading the 9th edition of Leigh Robinsons's super, excellent, definitive tome on being a Landlord or Landlady. I had bought and read his 3rd edition in 1981 and found that to be excellent. I have used the Rental Application form from that book hundred's if not thousands of times. That earlier edition is worn out the back is broken and the pages are dog eared. I was long over due for a new copy. There are many, many updates from the earlier version, and the book has grown from 270 pages to 494 pages! The latest edition has over 60 forms made and revised over the years by the author, a hand-on landlord himself.

This book is a tremendous value, filled to the gills and them some with useful, practical, down to earth advice from somebody who actually is a landlord. Leigh Robinson knows his stuff, there is no question about it. If you are currently a landlord/lady then you should run, or trot to your keyboard and order this book from Amazon.com. If you think you might want to become a landlord/lady then this book is recommended for you also.

One example contained in the book is having escrow accounts for the tenant's security deposits. I have personally used this for years even though not required by state law. The bank I use does not charge me anything to set up the escrow account with a separate sub-account for each tenant. Even people sharing one place have a separate individual sub-account with interest accruing to the tenant. Another example from the book is the landlord/lady's car. You can drive your Mercedes, Porsche, or BMW, just not to your rental properties. Personally I like a 1982 Cordoba, but a beat up car or pickup truck will do. The reason for this is many tenants think that all of their rent ends up in the landlord/lady's pocket. They forget about mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities, repairs, supplies, etc.

The author recommends that no appliances be furnished. Usually for houses we don't provide any appliances except ranges, but supply refrigerators for apartments. Very rarely would we supply washer, dryer, air conditioners, etc. Leave that to the tenants, this reduces repair bills and responsibility. One owner that I talked to had a refrigerator fail and the tenant claimed that the owner was responsible for spoiled food.
Since then that landlord does not provide any tenant with a refrigerator, and therefore is not responsible if the appliance breaks or for food spoiled.

The author notes that 50% of tenants have pets and discusses at length the pros and cons of renting to the pet's owner. Coin operated laundry is also discussed with the author's recommendation being that you only provide if there are 16 people or 12 bedrooms in the building. For smaller building than that it is not feasible to provide that to tenants. Leigh Robinson's recommendation on page 273 for wording on a section 8 lease could save thousands of dollars. In my opinion this book is invaluable and worth many more times the asking price. There is no better book on "Landlording" and I think I've read most of them. Buy it, enjoy it, use it, and profit from it. ... Read more

Book Description

A guidebook for the small investor who wants to invest in single family rental houses.Chapters guide the reader through setting meaningful and realistic goals, locating money for down payments, selecting good properties to buy, getting a loan without doing "creative financing" gyrations, managing tenants with a minimum of time, writing leases and getting good landlord insurance, and eventually doing a tax deferred exchange.Written clearly with the beginner in mind, but including the information an experienced investor needs to learn. ... Read more

Reviews (91)

INTERESTING???
Isn't it funny how mediocre books like this are described as "realistic", "sensible", and "not get rich quick"?I guess some folks feel that anything with savings account rates of return (if that) is realistic and sensible. Or perhaps anything put out by someone who is not making a lot of money is realistic. As other reviewers have indicated, this book is basic is as basic goes. A lot of what is offered in this book, has been taken from the "gurus" older books only is in digest form (very abbreviated) and like the "gurus" (who have been at this a lot longer and are a lot better) Suzanne offers a seminar. The book is just to get your interest.If you know absolutely nothing about real estate, this book is like First Grade elementary basics, but is not enough to make your first deal.Better to invest in Carleton Sheets No Money Down Program or buy Bob Allens "Nothing Down for the 90's".Beware of unknown authors trying to sell "realistic, sensible" (actually--ineffecive) books and financial advice.

Thoughtful, well-rounded, highly recommended
I recently purchased _Rental Houses for the Successful Small Investor_ after acquiring a duplex, and I have found it to be wonderfully helpful. I have read through the entire book and found useful tips on everything from types of mortgages to pet clauses in leases.

I purchased my duplex as an IRC 1031 exchange with a vacant lot that was not very good, and so this is how I started in on this kind of investment, and now I'm looking forward to future possiblities after reading Ms. Thomas' work.

I really appreciate the personal experiences she relates and the balance of for-profit and caring enterprise that her real estate projects represent.

Basic but realistic and sensible advice
The book is very basic. If you have already read other books and have experience investing in real estate, you will probably fall asleep reading this. However, if you are new, you will enjoy and benefit from reading Suzanne's excellent book.

Not the greatest book, not bad either. But at least it's not somebody elses progam.

I liked it--don't understand the 1 star reviews.
While Suzanne's book m ay not be a blockbuster like Robert Allen's Nothing Down or even as big. And even though Suzanne does cover a lot of the same information, she also covers her own unique experiences and strategies.

I don't know why people are giving this book 1 star. I have seen worse. 3 stars is the lowest it deserves and if this stuff is truly so basic to you 1 star reviewers, then why are you not out doing the deals instead of buying more books and writing reviews?

Too basic
As a beginning investor, I have read numerous books and talked with actual real estate investors, this book by Suzanne Anderson
is way, way to basic to be seriously considered for even the most novice of novice investors. ... 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