Reviews (35)

One of two must read real estate books.
In my opinion, "Nothing Down" is one of two must read real estate books the other being "Creating Wealth" also by Allen.

Using the advice in these two books, I was able to buy my first home with NOTHING DOWN and by investing in good, quality, cookie cutters was able to complete pay off my mortgage in five years.

I am debt free and financially independent thanks to the advice in these two great books.

As far as the so called realtor with licenses in Missippi and Florida, I know real estate investors in Florida and Georgia who are using Allens techniques successfully. Home owners near foreclosure look at us as a solution. They save their credit and get something out of their property. It's called "WIN/WIN".

And I am not picking on realtors. I know many realtors who also try to help people and are only concerned with their commissions. This so called "realtor" needs more training.

I highly recommend Mr. Allens books. I think these books get a bad rap because they appear to be "get rich quick" type of books. My goal was never to be a millionaire or "get rich quick." But by using the advice in this and Creating Wealth, I have been able to get richer, quicker, am debt free and financially independent. It doesn't take a million dollars, just the right plan.

Thank you Mr. Allen for a great, no, make that three great books. I also recommend "Multiple Streams of Income."

The Original Nothing Down book
Back in the late 70's and early 80's there were only a handful of books on real estate investing. The most famous was Nickerson's "How I turned $1,000 into $1 Million." A good book that was aimed at the "buy and hold" real estate investor. Of course, in todays dollars, that $1,000 would be more like $10,000 - $20,000 initial investment and you would have to wait and wait and wait and deal with the three t's of tenants, toilets and turnover.

Enter Robert Allen. Allen offers a revolutionary (at the time) set of techniques to buy real estate with little or none of your own money. The system works. It worked 24 years ago and it's still working today. I would also recommend Creating Wealth and Multiple Streams of Income by Allen and Real Estate Money Machine by Wade Cook.

The original worked for my Dad, and now it's my turn...
I was always suspicious of "get rich quick" books, and all books on making lots of money in general...how does one tell BS from truth?...aren't they all BS?

I asked my dad, A financially independent, self-made man who lives on the other side of the country from me, and whom I respect a great deal, how I could get started down the same path he did.

"Nothing Down," he told me. "By Robert Allen."
And he told me the story of how he used a trick called "the double mortgage crank" to buy a building nothing down and walk away from the closing table with the deed to the building and cash in his pocket.

So I went and I bought a copy...
and what do you know...I think he was right.

This book has been a tremendous inspiration to me, and can be to anyone aspiring to make themselves a place in the world.

Robert Allen not only teaches techniques that can be used in the real-estate market, but through these techniques, you learn how to become a creative investor, and THATS where the incredible value lies.

While I'm still a bit sketchy on some of the finer points of the real-estate market (I'm roughly 2/3s through the book), it's things that can be quickly learned from experience, or through more traditional real-estate books (though I've heard that allens other books are quite good at teaching these...)..and this is the only negative thing that I can say about "nothing down for the 90s"

Even for the skeptics...at the very least, this is an informative and entertaining read...but there IS a reason why Robert Allen is #1, and this is it.

And for those who think this book is all about taking advantadge of other people...think again...this book deals with finding people who are motivated to sell their properties, and then solving their problems while solving your own. It's called "win/win business", and that seems like some very fine business to me.

I couldn't reccomend this book more...I think it will change your outlook.

Creative financing strategies that still work!
They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery in which case Robert Allen should be sincerely flattered! Before Nothing Down, who else offered this advice? Answer: NO ONE!

Yeah, we had William Nickerson's classic (a fine book for the buy and hold who have a ton of money to invest and the ability to fix up a property) but nobody butu Robert Allen provides the wildy creative techniques to buy real estate NOTHING DOWN.

Notice that I did not say that Robert Allen invented these techniques, he was the first to share them. Prior to Robert Allen, only savvy investors who picked the brains of other savvy real estate investors knew about these techniques...and they weren't sharing! God forbid if everybody found out how to do this, that would tap into their profits.

Thank God that Robert Allen sees things differently. Thank you Robert for sharing.

The best--looking forward to Nothing Down 2000!
I read this book back in the 80's and it was great. I bought several income producing rnetal properties. I also used this in the early 90's when Clinon-omics created numerous foreclosures and downsizing. I was able to help people save their credit while finding income opportunities for myself.

Robert Allens system works. It worked in the 70's. It worked in the 80's It worked in the 90's and oh by the way, it's still working now. I know because I am still using these techniques. ... Read more

Book Description

Real estate wealth-building techniques that are--for once--grounded in reality instead of hyperbole

In a field rife with questionable, get-richquick schemes and scams, Jack Cummings has built a solid career out of providing real estate strategies that are sensible, logical, and achievable. Investing in Real Estate with Other People's Money features proven up-to-date strategies and techniques, with detailed examples of how to use each.

Everyone from novices to seasoned real estate pros will find useful ideas in this handson, how-to book. It provides all readers with the knowledge and fundamentals they need to become successful, including:

• How to become a real estate insider
• "No-money-down" strategies that actually make sense, with real-life examples
• Small details for increasing a property's value without spending a fortune

Reviews (3)

3 1/2 stars
One reviewer obivously stopped reading. Yes Jack Cummings has a chapter on cosigning and one on borrowing against a life insurance policy, but he also has 38 other chapters on very creative ways to finance real estate. But lets face it, these books are written for novices, so cut him some slack. He's covering all bases. And there are a one or two other just as cheesy ones such as chapter 37, "The Root Beer Float" (And in fact, this type of advice is why I didnt rate the book higher - but if you can gleen a couple of ideas to use then I feel a book is worth it).

Every type of financing one could think of is covered in this book from syndication to yes, using a family cosigner. Each idea also includes possible pitfalls. I rate this book 3 1/2 stars and feel it is a solid purchase.

Archaic and useless
Investing in RE with OPM is useful if you just came out from a cave or just landed on Earth. Can't make a deal work? Great suggestions from Cummings include asking your family member (THE FAMILY LOAN), borrowing against life insurance policies (MUST really really make sure that its whole and not term)(THE POLICY LOAN) and how about asking for a co-signer (THE AUTOGRAPH COLLECTOR). Only Cummings can manage to write chapters and pages about how to get a loan from a family member or how to add a co-signer to a loan. Investors, please, you have more important things to do.

Investing in less then a week-Great book with Excellent INFO
I read this book in less then a week and I am already putting together a purchase proposal following this books examples. It has many great ideas and explainations of how to flip properties, using first and second mortgages to benefit you, using home equity, taking a mortgage from the seller when they have 100% equity. I have been a minor in real estate for a few years, but this book has opened my eyes to new ways and techniques that I wish I knew many years back.

Jack Cummings is a great author, easy to read and follow. Nice short chaperts. ... Read more

Book Description

Join self-made millionaires Peter Conti and David Finkel as they show you how to create multiple streams of income buying homes in nice areas with nothing down.

These are the same two men who led a small group of investors to San Diego, California and locked up over $1.5 million worth of real estate with only $37 down! Now for the first time ever you can learn the inside secrets of exactly how they did it--and how you can too.

You learn:
How to buy homes in nice areas with nothing down.
7 fun, easy ways to earn up to an extra $100,000 this year investing in real estate.
How you can build a million dollar net worth in 5 years or less.
How to win the money game and earn a six-figure income investing from your home.

This book will share with you over 25 ways to find motivated sellers (including specific phone scripts and marketing materials you can use right away.)You'll learn the step by step negotiating system called the Instant Offer System that has made the authors two of the most famous real estate investor trainers of the past decade. And you'll learn how to sell your properties the fastest, easiest way possible.All this and more... ... Read more

Reviews (59)

Definitely buy this book!!
'A reader from California' - you don't know what you're talking about. And I wonder how many properties you actually have?

Having left my 6 figure full-time senior management position for want of a better and fuller life, I stumbled across Peter and David's book in my research on property. What a gem it is!

After reading the first two chapters, every word of it made sense. I have just sold off a property the traditional way and now only have three remaining. However, I'm gearing myself up to implement Peter and David's strategies (or as much of them as possible) for any future deals. Why? Because they make absolute sense and make it the easiest path to real estate investing.

Yes, I agree there are many people spousing themselves as real estate gurus making millions in seminars, because I have attended them. Some of them I have wasted my money. But don't throw out the baby with the bath water, these guys speak experience and have the track record to prove it.

If you look into the follow the evolution of all these seminar gurus, you will find that they all lead back to a few founding people - of which Peter and David are of a handful of those founders. The others are basically copy cats and derived from them.

This book isn't for the faint hearted. If you want real techniques for buying and selling property that will literally propel you, and are prepared to step out into new territory and make some mistakes along the way, get this book. You wont be sorry.

A Good Start for the Beginning Investor
This book is written in language that a beginning investor would find easy to understand. It focuses on one (of many) ways to invest in real estate, lease-purchase, and focuses on a specific method to accomplish this. I think this helps the reader as a beginning investor to really comprehend the concepts and terminology. I have met both authors and even a couple of investors whose stories appear in the book. I have found all to be people with integrity and determination to follow their dreams. This book can be a real inspiration to someone who is just thinking about investing in real estate. I have recommended it to many friends, because I have been able to see the methods they describe working for myself. It's a book worth reading.

Unoriginal & Unworkable
The principles are correct, however the examples are outrageous. To hope that a $200,000 home becomes worth $284,000 in 6 years is ludicrous. And you can't charge ABOVE market rates just so you make money - by definition the market won't pay that much.

More troubling to me are the authors use of "Multiple Streams of Income" (taken from Robert G. Allen), "Nothing Down" (taken from Robert G. Allen), "The Challenge" (taken from Robert G. Allen), and the claims of having "invented" the Purchase Option "method." Investors have been using purshase options long before these authors were born.

Lots of sales - not much valuable information.

What a Fairy Tale!
This book's primary purpose seems to hype the inexperienced would-be investor into signing up for the author's mentoring course. The numbers given as examples in the book are completely unrealistic (you can buy a house for $1,400/month but someone is going to rent it from you for $1,800/month - yeah, right). The book asks the question, "Why wouldn't a tenant-buyer just buy a home now?" but fails to give any reasonable answer.

I also couldn't help but notice the authors don't explain what to do when - as happens in THIS world - the tenant doesn't make payments for 3 months, refuses to vacate until the sheriff is called in (a lenghty and expensive legal process), and then leaves in the middle of the night after stealing appliances and putting holes in the walls. Guess who still has to make payments and now has to fix the place before it can be leased again?

The book lacks depth and reality - not a good combination for those who seriously want to get into real estate investing. The enormous number of laws regarding real estate transactions are not even mentioned. Superficial hype intended to sell more of the author's products.

How to Create Multiple Streams of Income Buying Homes in Nic
Here is proff on why I think David Finkel and Peter Conti's concepts are not very good. I am living proff to atest their books, tapes, videos, courses don't work. Their mentor has told me that they have a lot of good concepts in "theory". But in REALITY, what they talk about does not work. I have been thru all their mentoring courses starting several years ago. I love the way they teach and they SEEM to be honest ethical people but all they actually want is $$$$. They've promised people that the classes would be personal with only 15 people. It ended up being so much more. They talk about how they are always cheap and want to negotiate everyone they can when ever they can. The concept and the theory is great. they "totally refundable gurantee" sounds great too. But when you are really faced with the "doing" rather than the reading, its a whole 'nother ball game. They expect you to do unrealistic things to get a refund such as putting out 100 signs per week in your neighborhood. I don'tknow about you but putting out signs are illegal. then if you don't do it then you have just violated their "totally refundable gurantee" rule. How many of their many students who get excited and sign up actually become successful investors? Are their sucess stories just from their students or from paid students they interview? Are any of their success stories ever updated or are they just the same story they have been using for years? ... Read more

Amazon.com

Real estate is as much about people as it is about property, and, after location, success in real estate depends upon understanding the motives of those who play the game, because many critical decisions revolve around what real estate people think, how they act and why. The Real Estate Game, by William J. Poorvu and Jeffrey L. Cruikshank, is a clear, comprehensive overview illustrated with real-life experiences about individual investors, small developers, and moguls. Poorvu has developed and managed real estate and taught real estate investing at the Harvard Business School for over 35 years. This book is drawn from his course, and is designed to help investors make the right decisions derived from the right assumptions and to provide an insider's perspective on how to spot risks and develop strategies that provide protection and adequate investment returns.

The book uses the analogy of a game to illustrate some of the intricate and unpredictable interactions in real estate deals, and it lays out the rules of the game, including identification of the key players and periods of play: concept, commitment, development, operation, reward, and reinvestment. Readers are taught to be "value investors," ready to buy at the right price at the right time, because the best opportunities come from buying at a discount-to-replacement cost. The value investor must be prepared to sell at the right juncture, and must not be compelled to be in the game when conditions make the game not worth playing.

The case studies that run through the book show how to evaluate, develop, and operate all kinds of real estate investments from the points of view of all involved in the process. There's an extensive appendix covering the different property types, and the authors' "back-of-the-envelope" method for analyzing the financial implications of a potential deal is probably worth the book's weight in gold. --Scott Harrison ... Read more

Reviews (19)

A Must Read For Anyone interested in Real Estate
The Real Estate Game is well written, using simple easy to understand terms. It's a must read for the professional, the amateur, the investor and anyone else thinking of buying and selling either commercial or residential property. Most enjoyable is the view of the real estate process from all angles. You get to see how all those involved, the buyer, seller, contractor, manager, attorney and lender fit into the picture. The real life examples and case studies help explain what can be very complicated situations. As primarily a residential realtor I gained new insight into the commercial end of the field. It always amazes me how the entrepreneurs in real estate often took great chances on a hunch that what were bargain basement deals would eventually turn into gems. The stories about these men and women are particularly fascinating. The authors, Poorvu and Cruikshank, offer a world of advice and first-hand knowledge to anyone involved in any way in Real estate. This should be required reading for all brokers, realtors and advisors to anyone getting into the real estate game.

This is...
one of my two all-time favorite real estate books(the other is the Idiots Guide to Real Estate Investment). It covers real estate from a professional angle. It covers how to study the macro-environment in real estate and how it influences everyone in r.e. from the entrepreneur to the reit professional.

It's premise in analyzing properties is the "back of envelope" analysis. There is time to use a spreadsheet and do a thorough analysis later, but when presented an oppurtunity you need to act quick. B.O.E. analysis is a super quick, easy, first step number crunching technique that uses raw data to give you a basis to decide to either pursue or not pursue a certain investment. Instead of focusing on "location, location, location" it follows the premise of "learn the dynamics of how locations change, and figure out how that knowledge can help you buy and sell properties."

From the jacket, "Poorvu shows readers how to use direct investments, syndicates, and REITS to get into the real estate game across a broad range of property types: residential, office, hotel, industrial and retail." Not the "buy single family residential rental properties type of book," but an actual practical, professional look at real estate for those wanting to go more "big time".

Best of the RE Investment Books!
The vast majority of real estate investment books to be found in the Barnes & Noble investment section offer variations of Mark Twain's stock market advice: "making money in stocks is easy. Only buy a stock if it goes up; if it doesn't go up, don't buy it." By contrast, Poorvu walks readers through myriad real estate investment situations, fleshing out the risks and rewards, and the mindsets of the various players. While written in an anecdotal style replete with real-life examples, the book also presents an encyclopedic overview of investment opportunities (direct, REIT, syndicates, etc.) and asset categories (residential, commercial, industrial, etc.). This is a real estate investment book written by an adult, for adults -- in contrast to all the other get-rich-quick-no-money-down titles targeting gullible novices.

A Sophisticated Yet Interesting Real Estate book
Harvard Business School Professor and real estate investor William Poorvu has written a book about real estate is far above most real estate books. This book is nowhere near the run of the mill generic real estate book that tries to tell everything about real estate to people who don't have a clue. "The Real Estate Game" is a sophisticated commercial real estate book written by a real estate insider. This is not a book about buying your first house with no down payment.

What this is, is a book about commercial real estate projects from concept, commitment, development, operations, and harvest. The authors bring a behind the scenes and insiders' approach to commercial development. He lays it out in the form of a game with properties, capital markets, players and external environment. One of the stories in the book is that of Bill Zeckendorf's classic assemblage of Swift slaughterhouses into the United Nations property and vicinity. Included in the book is the authors' commercial due diligence checklist. This book would be most interesting to a person involved in commercial real estate, someone interested in commercial real estate or someone interested in the business of commercial real estate. I think that this is the kind of book that you can refer back to time and time again. There is a lot of information in this book and it may even be a book that you will want to read more than once. It has a depth, and quality of information contained far superior to the average mass media real estate book without the dryness of a real estate textbook

Rare good book on Commercial Real Estate
Considering how few books there are on commercial real estate I was happy to find this one. It has plenty of true-life examples and practical advice. The reviews that criticize the book because it assumes you are well-funded large-deal investor are not well taken. With bookstore shelves overflowing with how-to books about getting houses with no money down - books that assume you have no money, no experience and no real estate knowledge - we need some books for people doing large commercial deals. If that's not your focus, then this just isn't your book.

I do think the book would be better off without the real estate "game" angle. It reminds me of something an editor would coax the author to work in as a sort of hook or gimmick, and doesn't add much. But that's minor. Overall, entertaining and informative without covering the same ground as umpteen other texts. ... Read more

Book Description

Investors rocked by today's stock market woes are increasingly turning to real estate. Real Estate Investing from A to Z has become recognized in previous editions for explaining this potentially lucrative field in no-nonsense, easy-to-understand terms, while at the same time providing detailed information suitable for more seasoned investors. Substantially revised and updated chapters include discussions of REITs, risk reduction, the investment potential of single-family homes, group investments and joint ownership, and more.

Reviews (4)

A shallow survey
This is a great book if you want to get excited about real estate investments. The first chapters give one the impression that there is minimal risk in real estate compared to a vast upside potential.

The rest of the book surveys all the various kinds of real estate investments but does not cover them in depth. If you are looking for a book to help you evaluate a real estate transaction from a numbers standpoint, this book is not for you. I would turn to "The Real Estate Game" by Poorvu as a beginner's guide for evaluating real estate transactions.

Do you really want "A to Z" information?
The problem with a comprehensive "A to Z" book like this one is that it likely contains more information than the reader really needs. If you are interested in all aspects of real estate investing - commercial, residential and land - having to sort through the material for just one of these won't be an issue for you. But my interest is in single-family residential houses for investing and rental. The book is not organized so that I could read appropriate chapters to get the information I wanted. These three subjects are interspersed, often under the same section heading. Admittedly, there are many commonalities between the three types, but often it was difficult to discern which type was being written about or if it applied to all three. If you're mainly interested in residential real estate, check the reviews for "Rental Houses for the Successful Small Investor" by Suzanne P. Thomas. Also, just as I was beginning to get annoyed at the number of success stories about clever tactics for making "a killing" in real estate, Pivar finally wrote about a few failures - with post-mortem analysis - which helped to point out the risks in this type of investing. Perhaps because the book is about four years old now, it doesn't talk about on-line searches and some of the tax information may be not be accurate now.

Start Here
The best book that I have read to date. Now that me and my husband are successful real estate investors, all of our friends want in on the actions. We recommend that they read this book first. In fact, before, we will answer too many of their questions. This book covers it all and is very up to date.

INFORMATIVE, EASY TO READ OUTLINE OF REAL ESTATE INVESTING.
THIS WAS AN EASY TO READ, VERY INFORMATIVE BOOK ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF REAL ESTATE INVESTING...JUST LIKE IT SAYS...FROM A TO Z. IT OUTLINED INVESTING AND FINANCING TECHNIQUES FROM THE SIMPLE AND STRAIGHT FOREWARD TO MORE COMPLEX. GIVES INSPIRING EXAMPLES, NOT UNREALISTIC SUNSHINE AND B.S.! I WOULD BUY IT AGAIN. ... Read more

Book Description

Russ Whitney has made millions through real estate now you can, too!

Russ Whitney was a twenty-year-old high school dropout working in a slaughterhouse for five dollars an hour when he set out to become a millionaire. Armed primarily with guts and determination, he became one of America's youngest self-made millionaires by the age of twenty-seven.

Russ Whitney is living proof that you don't need formal education, capital, or even credit to get rich. But what you do need is a plan: a practical program of tried-and-true moneymaking techniques to help make your own financial dreams come true. In Building Wealth, Whitney shares the very strategies that have helped thousands nationwide duplicate his successes. Learn how to:

Book Description

This text provides a clear presentation of the numerous investment decisions involved in real estate such as whether and how to lease, buy, sell, or mortgage a property; how to analyze and predict the forces in the market that determine real estate values; whether and when to renovate, rehabilitate, or demolish; and when and how to divest a property. The authors use Value as a unifying theme, supporting their view that students best understand and appreciate the importance of the complex economic, social, and legal processes that affect real estate markets after they have developed an understanding of how real estate valuation and investment decisions are made. The text provides a decision-making framework through a greater use of technology and quantitative decision-making tools. It is organized into five perspectives: Investment, Market, Value, Mortgage Finance and Legal. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Comprehensive Commercial Focus on Real Estate
I took Jack Corgel's course in the Hotel School at Cornell. We used the third edition of this text, and it covered the spectrum of concepts for a basic introduction to real estate investment. Even though the course focused on commercial real estate, I found the concepts have helped me determine whether I have made good choices in residential real estate, as well. The best aspect of the book (and the course) was applying a discounted cash flow analysis to particular properties. As a method to assess the financial viability of a property by analyzing the rent, tax, depreciation and other effects, the discounted cash flow analysis helped me feel much more confident in my real estate investments.

The book covers four basic areas: investment principles like net present value, real estate markets, mortgage financing, and legal aspects of real estate. Although not flashy with lots of pictures, the essential concepts and methods are thoughtfully explained and applied. I highly recommend this book as a reference to keep on your shelf to refer to periodically if engaged in the acquisition of real estate. ... Read more

Book Description

How to take full advantage of changing interest rates, the details of getting a mortgage to purchase a home, dealing with banks and other mortgage holders, and much more. Here's a reliable guide for home buyers. Titles in the easy-to-understand Business Keys series are directed at consumers and non-professionals, with advice on saving, investing, protecting assets, and increasing wealth through prudent money management. The books define terms, cut through business jargon, speak in plain language, and take the mystery out of business. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

mortgage financing
author could have spend more time detailing his example

The layman's guide to learning the mortgage industry
This book is an excellent source for obtaining a comprehensive knowledge of the mortgage industry. Whether you are a prospective home buyer seeking to save money on a mortgage, or seeking knowledge and training for a job in the mortgage industry, this book tells just about all there is to know about the important points of financing a home. This book is written in language that just about anyone can understand, and if it is followed with relative care from beginning to end, a strong foundation of mortgage industry knowledge can be obtained. This book is written from the standpoint of empowering home-buyers with valuable, unbiased knowedge of the industry, and I highly recommend it for this purpose as I use the knowledge contained in it every day. ... Read more

Book Description

Housing equity, 401Ks, Pension funds.They all may be vulnerable to the next bursting bubble.John Calverley lays out the fundamentals of our asset-backed economy and explores the powerful implications for individuals, businesses, central banks, and policy makers. ... Read more

Book Description

Follow a proven path to greater wealth–with the newly updated bestseller How to Buy and Sell Apartment Buildings

Through his popular seminar program, Eugene Vollucci has shown thousands of experienced real estate investors and novices alike how to take advantage of one of the most rewarding investments you can find–apartment buildings. In this bestselling guide, the Volluccis’ simple, step-by-step program shows you how to become a real estate millionaire just like they did. With material on new IRS rulings, tips on avoiding common pitfalls, and new advice on assuming loans with delinquent clauses, How to Buy and Sell Apartment Buildings is more comprehensive and complete than ever.

This Second Edition includes all the information that you need to find great real estate deals, understand complicated leases and contracts, exploit all the tax breaks you’re entitled to, protect your assets, and turn a small investment into millions! With the Volluccis’ straightforward, three-step system, you’ll be able to:

• Gauge markets so you know when to buy or sell
• Read between the lines of property set-up sheets to spot good properties
• Use the latest computer software to accurately evaluate properties
• Develop a marketing plan to maximize profits when selling
• Take advantage of all the recent tax law changes
• Put together an asset protection plan that’ll make you judgment-proof

How to Buy and Sell Apartment Buildings, Second Edition also shows you how to concentrate your assets for higher returns, use consultants so you aren’t left on your own, set up a family living partnership to protect your assets, and much more. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

I don't agree with the previous comment
This book offers some decent advice as to market timing and investment strategies as particular to apartment buildings and it shows a possible scenario that assumes appreciation of the building (which is what everyone assumes anyway when the invest in real estate). I thought it was pretty good. At least it wasn't a get-rich-quick scheme as most real estate investment books seem to be.

Reads Like an Info-Mercial
Its too bad that the "good" reviews get better positioning on this book than the "poor" reviews. I am a lawyer who deals with real estate issues regularly. I was interested in getting into the business myself and this book was of no help at all. I am in a smaller town which made it particularly useless to me as the examples he used were all in places that had plenty of "comps" and other big city services and information available.

This book was way too short on nuts and bolts information with lots of dead-ends. Amazon should sell this book as an advertisement only and not for the serious (novice) investor.

There is a similar book by Berges that I bought (at Amazon's recommendation) at the same time which is MUCH MUCH BETTER--and its reviews bear this out. I am not related to and don't know Berges.

Gheeeeeeeeeze
Well, after attending one of his "investing in rentals" seminars, some of the information was ok, some vauge, some just absolutley avoided unless you paid the $500 "member" fee. What a crock. I think if you could read enough books on real estate, talk to some other people, you could figure out how to do it. it is not rocket science at all, save your money, don't buy the book, go take some classes instead. Real estate can be a frightening subject to many, but think about it, your living in a house or apartment. One other thing, he appeared to be a pushy salesman - be aware

this is a [Bad] book about a [Bad] get rich scheme!
This book published in 1993 is one of the worst real estate books ever written. It surprising that a book this bad has lasted this long. Anybody who gives this book a good review is related to the author or seriously delusional. Some real estate books are bad because the author is unfamiliar with the topic, or can not offer detailed real world advice from their theoretical perspective. Believe it or not some real estate books are written by authors, who don't know what they're talking about, or tell a tale that has no basis in the practical real world. Mr. Vollucci apparently has been an investor for 25 years, at least according to the book's cover. so from his years of experience, you would assume that he would write a good book. You know what they say about assuming. He also has taught a real estate seminar entitled "Three Moves to a Million." This is a catchy title! The author states, "You too can become a millionaire starting with just $6,000, and you can do it in only three moves, if these moves consist of investing in midsize apartment buildings." He further defines midsize as 18 to 100 unit complexes. The first move is to buy a "hypothetical apartment building for $600,000" in Phoenix. He hypothetically forms an investment group of 10 individuals who put up $6,000 EACH for the down payment. Four years later the Phoenix property is "hypothetically" sold for $860,000. And a second "hypothetical" 44 unit building was bought in Boston for $1,750,000, now with a group of 5 investors. Apparently one "hypothetical" investor went home. Two years later the Boston property is "hypothetically" sold for $2,325,000. The third move was a 40 unit building in Seattle bought for $1,450,000 with no investing group. The one investor takes the proceeds from the Boston building and buys the Seattle building by himself. In 1990 the Seattle building was "hypothetically" sold for $2,267,043. Therefore the author using a computer program and 10 years of hindsight turned a mythical $6,000, into a "hypothetical" $1million dollars in only 10 years.

In the book are other facts that are suspect. For example its written in the book "that seven out of ten millionaires made their money in real estate." Read "The Millionaire Next Door" and the Forbes 400 riches for the real scoop. You'll find that the 7 out of 10 figure is grossly exaggerated by the author.

If you want to play a computer game and you want a million dollars "hypothetically", then this is the book for you. Otherwise read "The Millionaire Next Door" By Thomas Stanley and William Danko for information on REAL life millionaires. And for buying real estate apartments read William Nickerson's "How I Turned $1,000 into a Million in Real Estate in my spare time", which is not a computer simulation game.

Some valuable HIGH LEVEL information, be careful some advice
While this book contains some great information for someone wanting to get another perspective on Real Estate investing, it is a constaint information tease! You are introduced to valuable information, but you will finish the book with too many questions for a "how to" book! I was thoroughly excited about learning more about the "Center For Real Estate Studies" that the author mentions several times as the place to get the software that you must use to make millions like he did. ... I called information and could not find a listing, I searched the internet and could not find a web site, so I finally gave in and found the information in the back of the book so I could get information about the software. I called the numberand you will not get through to a live person ever! ...The author discloses in his book that he is part of the organization. After a few phone calls I finally received a catalog by mail. In the catalog I found his book on the first page being sold to "members" for a discounted price of [money amount], and Nonmembers for [money amount]. I could not believe my eyes so I had my wife verify that I was not crazy! I feel violated! ... Read more

Book Description

Everyday, people just like you have a real chance to make serious money in real estate. All it requires is the discipline to purchase good property and the motivation to make new purchases that will create growing equity. Filled with in-depth insights and practical advice, Building Big Profits in Real Estate will show you the right way to invest in real estate.

A successful stock market investor may need to perform extensive research to make a profit, but becoming a successful real estate investor can be more complex and far more hands-on, especially when you’re just getting started. The good thing about real estate is that it offers more security as well as greater upside potential than any other investment––mainly because the value of property never goes to zero (unlike some recent stocks) and real estate prices often continue to go up even when general economic conditions are soft.

Building Big Profits in Real Estate focuses on the sound strategies that everyone needs to understand before they invest in real estate. It covers important topics, such as analyzing markets, financing your projects, purchasing rental property, managing a real estate portfolio, finding new ways to invest, and understanding wholesale markets. It also reveals some of the most overlooked opportunities in the real estate market, including Section 8 rentals, wholesaling properties, and selling houses on a rent-to-own basis. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Too good to be true? --- NOT!
My husband and I dabbled a bit in real estate investing, but it didn?t work out like we?d planned.We had always been curious, but skeptical about those late night TV ads.Should we have purchased those tapes?We had heard that this local basketball legend was doing well in real estate.Did he buy those tapes and which ones? This book really explains what it takes to be successful - a lot of hard work.The author is candid about his mistakes, his strengths, and what he had to do to compensate for weaknesses.He gives a lot of good advice and the Appendix is full of useful templates.I only intended to skim this book and ended up reading every page.This is the first time I've really understood what "flipping" is and everything that has to be put in place to be ready to recognize and seize the opportunities. We still have a few properties and I'm going to get my husband to read this book before we do anything else with them.Hoping to see more from these co-authors. They make a good team.

Great for Beginners and Veteran Investors
This was an excellent book. It told the personal story of someone who was starting out in the business and pointed out pitfalls. The appendix was an excellent source of information. The writers wrote this book clearly for the new investor in mind but it was such an easy read with a lot of information that a veteran investor would be able to get a new view of an old subject. I believe this book will help me suceed as well as help me make a little extra money where I might have made mistakes. It was well worth the wait. The writers really know this subject and explain it very well.

An Inspiration....
An excellent, well-written book!I would definitely recommend this book to anyone thinking about investing in real estate.After purchasing a few books that were difficult to follow and really nothing more than books filled with industry terminology, I was a little skeptical about buying another.I was pleasantly surprised by this one.It was easy to follow and gave me the motivation and inspiration that I needed to get started.I truly got the sense as if I had my very own mentors in Wade and Suzanne.The experiences and information shared in this book are priceless!

Very Good Read, Could not Put down!!
This book was very interesting to me being a young college student on the verge of graduation.The book talks about basic strategies that all real-estate investors need to know, whether they do it full-time or part-time.The book goes in depth about situations that the author has been through and the mistakes that he made along the way.It also talks about ways to handle certain situations that will arise being a new investor.Not only was this book very informative, but it was also very motivational for the new investor. I would reccomend this book to anyone who thinks they may want to pursue a career in real-estate. ... Read more

Book Description

Commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS)–securitizations of mortgage loans backed by commercial real estate–have become compelling devices for fixed income investing.This title, edited by renowned financial expert Frank Fabozzi, describes the structure, valuation, and performance of CMBS, illustrates an empirical framework for estimating CMBS defaults, instructs how to value prepayment and credit risks of CMBS, and more. ... Read more

Book Description

Real estate investment is one of the most popular ways to build wealth in today’s economy. Real Estate Flipping provides novice and seasoned investors with proven strategies for buying and selling properties quickly—known as "flipping" in the industry—for maximum profit. Expert author Mark B. Weiss gives readers insider advice on scouting out potential properties, negotiating like a pro, and valuing a property prior to purchase.

Real Estate Flipping gives readers a step-by-step process for lining up credit, getting the property inspected, and working with contractors. This easy-to-follow book also outlines the finer points of the transaction, including:

·Finding the right financing
·Buying residential versus commercial property
·Understanding tax implications
·Structuring the deal

The author also helps readers navigate potential traps and pitfalls, such as contract loopholes, shaky financing, and tenant obligations, which can derail the most carefully planned deals. With Real Estate Flipping, readers will be turning properties to profits in no time flat. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good Book For Me
I bought this book this week on my way out of town to a business trip in Seattle. I read it during the flights. I mention this because the flght from NYC to Seattle is long enough. This book made it seem like the blink of an eye. First I want to Flip Ral Estate. As an attorney I see clients do this often. Second it was a pleaasure to have an easy read. I can appreciate the case studies used by the author. Mark B. Weiss is not simply a book seller, he is active in the feild. I'll bet he's flipping right now! This book is writen for everyone. It is an easy to understand book that should be on the Best Seller List in No Time! ... Read more

Book Description

One third of all homes sold today are condos, co-ops, or townhouses. America's #1 real estate expert shows what to watch for when buying one of them. Home ownership is still the American dream, but not everyone follows tradition by buying a detached one-family house. Condos, co-ops, and townhouses are increasingly popular alternatives nationwide. These "shared ownership" options have unique pluses and minuses, as Bob Irwin reveals in Tips & Traps When Buying a Condo, Co-op, or Townhouse.

Like other books in his best-selling "Tips & Traps" series, it's packed with targeted, reader-friendly advice. If you're a prospective buyer, Bob Irwin will show you how to:

• Decide if shared ownership is right for you
• Read between the lines of bylaws
• Deal with homeowners associations
• Check out the seven warning signs of big trouble
• Handle disclosures and inspections
• And much more

Reviews (6)

Read this book before you leap into a shared ownership
This book showed me the "red flags" to look for when evaluating a shared ownership developement and helped me to avoid buying into a nightmare. Ohhh, I'm so glad I read this book.

I read 4 other books on buying a condo and this book was by far the most practical and answered my questions. The format is easy to read and quickly search.

The tips and traps opens your eyes to what you're getting yourself into. Learn from the experiences of others and make the right choice for your lifestyle. Don't buy into a dysfunctional developement. It can be a legal, financial and emotional nightmare.

Thanks to Robert Irwin's advice, I passed on several developements and kept searching until I found the right condo developement for me. It has been a great choice. The book was a helpful resource during the buying process. Highly recommend.

not for city buyers
The title may talk about "condo, co-op, or townhouse" but it is clear the author has nothing in mind but those awful suburban townhouse or condo developments. There are numerous references to density being bad and to things like counting the number of parking places. Not of use to someone who is interested in purchasing actual city housing.

A good primer.
As a prospective first-time property purchaser, I found this book to contain some good information on the particulars of condos and townhouses. I did not read the section on Co-ops however. Parts of the book seemed to contain redundant information, not necessarily for emphasis. Perhaps the chapters were intended to be somewhat self-contained. "Buying a home for Dummies" has been my first resource. I'd recommend reading something like it first in order to fully appreciate the differences w/condos and townhouses described in this book.

Somewhat helpful, lots of filler
Like all the books I've read on this subject, you'll get some useful advice, but you'll have to wade through a lot of filler.

Quick, straight forward helpful advice
If you are even thinking of even buying a condo, townhouse or condo, this book is a definite buy. It's definitely worth the price to educate yourself about some things to look out for when looking to buy. It is in a question/answer/tip/trap quick and to the point format. I bought the book because it was recommended as one of the top ten real estate books to buy in the real estate section in the Washington Post for 2000. Highly recommend. ... Read more

Book Description

Learn the moneymaking secrets of purchase option investing from two leading real estate investment experts.

Real estate investment is one of the surest paths to financial success.Two self made real estate millionaires outline a low risk approach called "purchase option investing", enabling novice or experienced investors to buy homes with little or nothing down. ... Read more

Reviews (58)

Intelligent, open-minded readers only!
In response to the reviewer from Florida (who did not list his name and take responsibility for his ignorant remarks):
I have met the author of this book, attended his seminars, and read his previous book, as well as this current one. The techniques described in detail ARE viable and REAL INVESTORS are making a living with them, myself being one of them. You only have a real estate license, which has handicapped you to thinking creatively about real estate investing. Leave the real investing to people like myself who are intelligent, creative, and hard-working enough to implement the book's strategies. My advice to you is to stick to selling houses in the traditional manner. To all others, read this book. The information will help you become even more successful in your real estate investing endeavors.

This book is great
I read this book, as well as the earlier Peter Conti/David Finkel book, and 2 from Dolf de Roos. This one and the others educated me a great deal on the real estate market and opportunities available. Not all the ideas are for me..but some are, and I've since purchased 3 different types of properties using what I've learned, and I'm still looking for more opportunities. It's working in several ways. You use the concepts--the ones that work for you. It's not a bible--its an education and you apply it to your own situation and reality. My own real estate agent was scepticle too, and didn't think the techniques were on the up and up, or that the authors were really successful RE salespeople. But the results speak for themselves, if you use the tips to your own advantage in your own comfort zone. Yes, it does take some work no matter which choices you decide to use, and ethics. The book by Finkel & Conti is written very optimistically although it does tell about pitfalls. After reading it, you may decide to do nothing, but just be more aware, or take action in a different way for the real estate opportunities. But the financial rewards are there if you pick and choose how you want to apply them in your own situation.

Going to try to make it work!
I got the book about a week ago. I have read it a couple of times and taking a few notes. It was an easy read.

My goal is to have my first property in 3-4 months. The reason I picked so far out as a goal is because I have a new 4 mo. old daughter. Otherwise I probably would have said a month and a half... I will right back and let you know how it is going...

On another note about all the reviews... It seems to me that all the students did 5 outta 5 stars and anyone who either hasn't read it or been able to buy any property gave the book a 1 star. It seems to me people who have not, at the very least, read the book, should not comment on the book... Ranting does not help anything. Anyway, like I said, I'll let you know how it goes... I'll write back in a month...

Why I'm GOING to buy this book...
Suggested by "National Real Estate Investor" online.

Don't Go Here
The title gives you all you need to know about this text if you have any intuitive sense and that is, keep looking. The book presents itself as a simple, EASY way to increase your wealth and it sounds too good to be true for good reason. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Not much help
This book says that market analysis is vital in real estate investing, but it doesn't really tell you how to do it. It gives a long list of questions to be answered about a city to determine whether or not it's a good time to invest. However, it doesn't tell you what to do with the answers. It doesn't tell you how to analyze the information or how to compare markets to see which ones are good or bad. Nor does it cover the challenges of investing in property in another state. This would be vital information since the author says to live where you want and invest where it makes sense.

Another problem is makes it seem easy to be successful in real estate, as if all you have to do is follow the book's instructions and you're almost guaranteed riches. There are no detailed case studies to support the book's claims; just some vague "success" stories.

A lot of the rest of the information in this book is dated because it's just pulled from another book the author wrote in 1986.

Too much product promotion
I purchased this book because it got a good review in another publication, but I was disappointed upon reading in. The more I read of the book the more it became apparent that the object of the book was to encourage readers to sign up for the authors annual property buying trip. The message of the "buying trip" comes out again and again throughout the book. It seems that the authors, and their collaborators, find properties for people who sign up for these buying trips, and then these same people buy the properties.

It would have added a lot to the book if the authors had described the criteria he used for selecting the properties. By going to a different town and purchasing properties that other people have selected for you seems to violate a basic principal of investing. That principal is to mantain control of your property, which is harder to do the farther away from it you are, particularly for beginning investors. I believe that real estate investors should be in control of the process of evaluating properties and not rely on "experts" to make those decisions for them. I suggest buying something closer to home and do your own analysis of a property's value. In the long run you'll be better off.

Judge this book by its cover
To find out how bad this book is, you don't have to read any more than the back cover. Right at the top it says "Your bible for real estate investing!" [...] It would take a miracle to fit everything you need to know about real estate investing into one 382-page book. The problem is this book doesn't comprehensively cover many necessary topics, such as: taxes, accounting, rental laws, etc. Regardless, the book claims it will help "you understand all the ins and outs of the real estate market." Obviously, there's no way to fit everything you need to know into one book. [...]

A lot of good tools
The author recommends "timing" the market. I'm not a big fun of market timing, but it was interesting to know that enrollment of K-6 has something to do with real estate market.

Typical to some real estate investing books (such as Shemin's books), this book has a lot of "buy my course" ad in it, but I still like that book as it contains a lot of useful tools, especially about how to plan your investing and how to start.

My personal experience, not just a review
I have studied real estate investing for over two years and never new how to take the first step towards buying a rental income property. I tried book after book and even an on TV CD program nothing was getting me any closer. Then I met Marc and Paula Garrison who along with their personal guidence help me get started this past August 2003. I have bought three properties thus far all due to the one buying tour I went on recently. Everything they discuss in this book is true gold. If you want hand holding every step of the way this is a must read. The information in this book has never been shared outside of the students that go on one of their tours. Because of Marc and Paula I now have a network of dozens of students that have been on their tours to network with, its a great group to share ideas. I am not investing in the state I live, but have all the contacts I need in that state, due to the buying tour I went on. I am going on another buying tour March 30 in a different state and can't wait to get started there. Many of the buying tour students are repeat attendees, which speaks for itself. Contact Marc via the book or at NAREI.COM he always returns your calls.

Todd Bertocchi
Part-time real estate investor ... Read more

Book Description

Landlording is more popular than ever as low interest rates and stock market volatility inspire people to move money into real estate.While higher returns and stability are the attractions, a multitude of factors affect landlord success.Many of these factors may appear particularly daunting to nonprofessionals.

Real estate veterans and authors Daniel Goodwin and Richard Rusdorf offer all the resources and information any landlord needs in a single book.The Landlord's Handbook: A Complete Guide to Managing Small Residential and Commercial Properties, 3rd edition, is an updatedand expanded volume, featuring expert guidance on all aspects of the landlord business.The narrative, examples, and stories make up a valuable guidebook for landlords, property managers, real estate agents, appraisers, mortgage lenders, insurance agents, and accountants who want to:
* Find the best tenants.
* Collect rent and effectively manage accounts.
* Make sense of insurance and taxes.
* Address environmental issues associated withproperties.
* Buy, sell, and remodel more profitably.

All the details needed to master landlording are outlined in easy-to-follow steps, written in an intelligible, approachable style.The authors also include tips on trouble-free maintenance, as well as information on the latest tenants' rights issues concerning leases, riders, security deposits, evictions, and more. ... Read more