Customer Reviews
RE investing A - Z 
2008-06-09
If you are just beginning in RE investing you must get this book. It goes over all of the different types of RE investing. This book is a must have for Real Estate investors.
Very Detailed Book on Real Estate Investing 2008-02-24
Having read the third edition of this same book, which was very good, I found this to be a more detailed and thorough revision. The way in which the information is portrayed guides the reader through the steps of investing and how to not only succeed, but to protect themselves from the failures that many novice and seasoned real estate investors fall victims to. If you want to know about investing in Real Estate, this is the book for you.
Nothing Earth Shattering 
2008-01-03
Having read a number of different real estate investing books, I am happy to report that this one is definitely above average. The author does make an effort to cover many facets (though perhaps too many?) of real estate investing. If you are looking for an introduction to real estate investing in general, this is a good place to start. If, on the other hand, you are looking for something new or different, you may want to look elsewhere. This book does a good job of hitting the basics, but it's broad coverage means that at times it is lacking in detail.
A practical guide 2007-12-13
This is a practical guide to the various avenues and pitfalls in investing in real estate. At the prices used, you can't go wrong to pick one up.
Best Book on Subject, PERIOD 2007-11-15
This book is the best book on the subject of real estate investing. I encourage anyone with an intrest in real estate investing to pick this book up. This book is in its fifth edition because the information within every edition is simply the best, most well-written, complete, and up-to-date information in text ever. It helps also, to note that the authors have Phd's from prestigious universities. They teach at some of the most elite learning institutions around, write editorials and articles for newspapers and magazines (including the Wall Strreet Journal), and also work with Donald Trump himself. I think success like that speaks for itself-how many real estate "gurus" can say that?? Not many!! This book will definitely not disappoint and can by itself, lead you on a path to great success AND wealth in the world of real estate investing.
Good practical info 2007-09-10
THE BESTSELLING GUIDE TO REAL ESTATE INVESTING
Now in its fifth edition, Investing in Real Estate is the straightforward guide that helps you start growing your fortune by investing in houses and small apartment buildings. Successful real estate investor Gary Eldred shows you how you can outperform the stock market by investing in residential real estate--the surest and safest way to build assets.
This updated edition covers all the new trends and tactics in real estate investing, including how to shop for properties outside your home market and how to use option arms to achieve positive cash flow. As always, you'll find all the information you need to start investing now, as well as up-to-date tips on negotiating deals, spotting market trends, and using the Internet as a research tool to find and buy properties. Let the authors show you how to:
* Buy with a low or no-money down payment
* Build wealth without paying income taxes
* Find the neighborhoods and properties that will appreciate fastest
* Add value to your properties with smart improvements
* Choose the best financing for your investments
* Protect your net worth with LLCs and other legal strategies
Whether you need money for your child's college tuition, a prosperous retirement, or a higher quality of life, Investing in Real Estate, Fifth Edition is the best guide available to help you start building real wealth right now.
Excellent Book! 2007-09-06
After you get past the author's stock market rant, this book is a great resource. It explains the relevent formulas for evaluation of real estate investments, how to obtain the data, and how to compare alternate investments. I have found it takes these aspects of investment a bit further than many of the other real estate books I have purchased. Skipping the stocks rant, I think this is the best book on the subject I have read.
Investing in Real Estate Provides Depth and Insight 2007-08-05
There is a good reason why five editions of this book have been published. It covers the major topics that most real estate investors need to know about their profession. Many books cover the same ground, but few do it with such depth and insight.
One motivation that I had in when I originally bought this book was to get a clearer understanding of commonly used real estate terms such as Net Operating Income (NOI), Capitalization Rate (R), Value (V), Return on Investment (ROI) and Gross Rent Multiplier( GRM). The book does a good job of both describing these terms, as well as providing numerous example of their use.
As an investor who focuses on fix-up houses, I think the section on buying fix-up houses hits the nail on the head. I like how the authors describe how easy it is to overlook a the potential in a fix-up house, in saying, "Many buyers reject properties too quickly. They walk in , do a quick-take with a pass-through tour, and then say something like, 'Let's get out of here. It's way too dark, the rooms are too small, and ... it has awful burnt-orange shag carpeting in the bedrooms... anyone would be crazy to buy that house. Yes, anyone would be crazy to buy that house - unless, of course, they could buy it at a steep discount , rehab, redecorate and resell it, or perhaps, if in finding a discounted fixer they were able to buy property in a higher-priced neighborhood they could other wise not have afforded. Then these buyers wouldn't be called crazy. They'd be called smart."
Other books that I have found particularly useful are: "How We Made A Million Dollars Recycling Great Old Houses" by Sam Weir and Mary Weir; "Profits in Buying and Renovating Homes" by Lawrence Dworin; and, "Building Wealth One House at a Time: Making it Big on Little Deals" by John W. Schaub.
Terry Sprouse - author of the book, "Fix 'em Up, Rent 'em Out: How to Start Your Own House Fix-up and Rental Business in Your Spare Time."
Great resource for newbies 2007-08-02
This book is easy to read and has great advice and tips. The authors have organized the principles of real estate in a way I could easily understand and encompass.
Another great book I found - Bubble Proof: Real Estate Strategies that Work in any Market by Tonja Demoff has great strategies and a different spin on real estate.
Well written and thorough. Worth every penny. 2007-07-11
If you know nothing about real estate, this is the book for you. I have read tons of books about real estate. Alot of them are mediocre at best. This one, however, gives you good sound practices in language you can understand!
Buy it new, buy it used - but if you are even pondering investing in real estate, make sure you buy it!
