5 comments about The Real Estate Game: The Intelligent Guide To Decisionmaking And Investment.

1. 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




2. 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.



3. William Poorvu teaches at the Harvard Business School and also invests and develops on his own. He uses case studies to show examples of the techniques and rules he uses when investing which is how MBA's are taught. Overall its some great real world advice with no promises of making you a millionaire overnight.



4. I found this book extrememly valuable in deepening my understanding of the subject and providing perspective for me to carry my understanding further on my own by looking at market information and events.
   Useful for beginner to intermediate level real estate interested people.



5. Mr. Poorvu's book does an excellent job of teaching investors how to analyze real estate deals. It reads a bit like a text book but serious investors will appreciate the intelligence and depth of the content.

5 comments about Investing in Real Estate, 5th Edition.

1. 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.



2. 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.



3. 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.



4. 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.



5. 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.

5 comments about Investing in Duplexes, Triplexes, and Quads: The Fastest and Safest Way to Real Estate Wealth.

1. Difficult to read due to lack of transitions. Some difficulty with following examples. Otherwise several decent plans on building wealth through rental units.



2. Larry Loftus gives great tips in this easy-to-read guide for this type of investing. When my partner and I first decided to buy a second home for an investment, we weren't sure which kind was right for us. This book turned out to be our turning point where we realized this was the right type of investment for our situation. Loftus relates personal experience, regrets and success. Great real-scenario figures, charts for comparison and defining information about who does what in the real estate biz.



3. very good book. organized, but could have been shorter had it left out some of the ideas not related to duplexes, triplexes, and quads. overall, would def reccomend.



4. I would recommed this book to anyone who is looking to branch out into real estate (residental property). I have 3 properties and they are producing good wealth, plus I never worry about them being vacant.



5. I have been in the real estate game for 10 years, starting with "flipping" (before it was trendy), then to building "spec" homes (because it was trendy), and finally to "hold and rent" (because I had to!). After the boom, I had several homes that would not sell and reluctantly turned to rentals as a last resort to cut down my mortgage outlay. Much to my relief, it worked!
   
   Since that revelation, I recently set out to find information specializing in "Buy/Fix/Rent" methods and along comes this book. At first blush, it was exactly what I was looking for - and with glowing reviews to boot! Bullseye, right? Well not quite...
   
   THE GOOD: Great introduction for beginners, providing a nice foundation of information. Definitely like his reasoning behind buying multi-family residences. Section on Valuation of Property was a good read.
   
   THE BAD: You need to be fairly well financed for down payments, renovations, margin, etc., and have very good credit. He only buys in middle to upper middle class 'yuppie' areas, that are near where he lives. That may not apply to everyone. He disregards lower income and out-of-state areas as options (I found his explanations a bit unsatisfactory). He also advocates being the property manager, which is a legitimate full time job (believe me, I know!). His long-term success relies largely on appreciation and buying more properties by pulling out equity with refinancing, which is tough sledding these days (not his fault, he wrote this when that was not an issue).
   
   THE UGLY: At the risk of being offensive, his blurb on Selecting Tenants was laugh-out-loud funny. I guess his gut is the divining rod of the rental world. Sorry, I could not resist commenting on that.
   
   In conclusion, this is a quick read and there are some solid pieces to the puzzle (especially if you are a beginner), but I can't quite adapt this to my situation.

5 comments about What Every Real Estate Investor Needs to Know about Cash Flow... And 36 Other Key Financial Measures.

1. I was not sure if this book would work for me. I bought several other books on financial analysis, but I always found them either to be too dry or too complex. Gallinelli has the ability to get the scary formulas and maths and break it down to a level that can be understood.
   His style of writing is fun too. He puts in the occasional joke at the right moments when things start getting a bit complex. This helped me a lot to understand and follow his line of thinking.
   In addition, the book is very well planned as it builds up slowly from very basic material to more advanced material.
   Good book to have.



2. Wow, now this is a great reference book for investment calculations. Not only does he provide formulas, but Frank also explains the use and the Rules of Thumbs are great. There is no magic calculation that will tell you if it's a good deal or not and Frank says that several times. It's a matter of looking at the opportunity from several angles that will give you that indication.
   
   My only warning is that this book is really geared to multi-family or commercial investments. Some of the calculations are not applicable to the residential single family units that some beginner investors start with.
   
   Having a MBA, I'll tell you this, learning this ratios and calculations were much easier to learn from this book than I did in the classroom. Good job Frank, a definite must have for the serious investor.



3. This book goes over many methods to make an informed decision. I would reccomend this to a person that really wants to know different ways to analyze your deals. Very informative.



4. "What Every Real Estate Investor Needs to Know about Cash Flow" is the definitive guide to understanding critical calculations that will help you to determine if a prospective acquisition target is a great deal to buy immediately or a horrible investment to avoid like the plague!
   
   I've owned this book for years but often find myself referencing this wonderful and well-written manual.
   
   Matthew A. Martinez
   Author of "Investing in Apartment Buildings: Create a Reliable Stream of Income and Build Long-Term Wealth" and "2 Years to a Million in Real Estate"
   www.matthewamartinez.com



5. I have recommended to all of my friends to read the following books in order to shortcut the process and learn what they need to know. I told them this is what I would do if I did it over again. (I have my CCIM, Masters of RE from CU, ULI Development Certificate, NAIOP courses) But in all those, this would be most beneficial and starting here would help in short-cutting the process:
   
   1) What Every Real Estate Investor Needs to Know About Cash Flow - Gallinelli
   
   2) Insider Secrets to Financing Your Real Estate Investments: What Every Real Estate Investor Needs to Know About Finding and Financing Your Next Deal - Gallinelli
   
   3) Professional Real Estate Development - 2nd Edition - Peiser
   
   4) Principles of Real Estate Syndication - Friedman
   
   5) Confessions of a Real Estate Entrepreneur - Randel
   
   I have read several other real estate books, but they tend to go way off course. This one tells you practical knowledge shoring up the base/foundation in order to understand more complex issues, but at the end of the day, simplisity will win out.
   
   I think I have probably told at least 10 friends to read these books and they should be part of their "Library" as this will get them where they need to go and understand without practical experience.
   
   I wouldn't recommend it if I didn't think it wasn't great.
   
   I have no relation or affiliation to Frank G, just have read so many books, would like to shortcut the process for other people eager to get there and I love to read other people's reviews on Amazon so I know which ones are useful.
   
   Hope this helps

5 comments about Complete Guide to Real Estate Tax Liens and Foreclosure Deeds: Learn in 7 Days-Investing Without Losing Series (Investing Without Losing).

1. I was curious about the topic of tax liens after reading about it. This book clearly explained what it is. It showed examples, and illustrations. And it didn't carry the usual garbage of having too many pages with no content. This book is a quick read but every page is filled with information that I was able to use.



2. This is a very very quick read and a definite time saver for people on the go. I think if you are new to this and didn't know how tax liens work, you will really find this book to be helpful as it guides you step by step. It is very specific on what you should do and what forms to fill out. I have looked at other tax lien resources mainly John Beck's expensive tax lien program on TV. I found this book to be cheaper and more direct to the point, while the latter having little or no resources unless you want to pay more for coaching and stuff.
   
   Also I was surprised to find the free online community with this book. It makes the learning process a little easier when you have questions and you can ask people including the author directly.



3. A good book that demistifies any confusion about tax sales throughout the country. Easy to read and easy to follow. Breaks down all the information into an organization fashion. Unfortunately, the author's website isn't working.



4. This book is very easy to understand. It gives you step by step information and resources on tax liens and deed. I would recommend this book to any one that wants to know about tax lien and deeds.



5. I read this book in just a couple of days and found it to be simple yet very informative. I probably will not be jumping into investing into liens and deeds right away until I research some more, but this book is definitely one to read first before starting your adventure. It is definitely not boring and I highly recommend it to anyone who, like me, is just starting to learn about this type of investing.

5 comments about The Pre-Foreclosure Property Investor's Kit: How to Make Money Buying Distressed Real Estate -- Before the Public Auction.

1. This is the fourth book on foreclosures that I have read in the last two weeks and it is by far the best. copywrite is 2005. The author says less than 10% of the people reading this book will ever buy a foreclosure property. He also says, "The number one reason most beginners strike out in this business is they overestimate the current market value of the very first pre-foreclosure property they purchase". "Market value" is not the same as "current value". "Assessed value" is not the same as "appraised value". The author explains things in detail. He also gives you many, many sources online where you can gather much needed information to make quality business decisions. The many online sources alone justify the purchase of this book, but it is the author's honest handling of all phases of the foreclosure process that should make this your first foreclosure book. If you are currently in foreclosure buy this book and help yourself negotiate. If you are thinking of buying a foreclosure buy this book and learn why not to "purchase at auction on the courthouse steps" and why you should always pay a professional to do a through title search. One more thing. Some properties are not insurable. This book can easily save you thousands of dollars.



2. Very informative kit. Many people hear the word foreclosure or pre-foreclosure and automatically think, bargain or a steal or buying a home for dirt cheap; but there's a lot more to it than that and this book gives you a very good insight of how the process works. Buying distressed Real Estate can be time consuming, costly and a real challenge, as you will find out after reading this book.



3. I spent a weekend reading the book. Loved it. The author knows what he is talking about. He also has a good website where you can download the proper letter you should send out to people in distress.
   
   I own a foreclosure company and have adapted some of his techniques, nevertheless (not to take away any merit from the authorm but instead to enhance the next version of his book) our company principals felt like the letters were a little bit to hard on the person that is loosing their homes. And sometimes talking this hard to people could have negative consequences. We have to understand that these are individuals that when loosing their homes, can go into denial and sometimes enter into very heavy depression.
   
   If you do decide to get into this process of sending out letters the only thing you should try and add to them, is to let the people know that you are there because you really care to help them out and you are not there to make a quick buck! People will give you their homes if you are upfront, honest and ethic about what you are trying to do.
   
   Don't forget to add a little note written by hand thats tells the reader that you: "really care to help them!"
   
   Other than that, you should buy the book if you are into the business of Real Estate.



4. The information included in this book has made my job much easier and has expanded my knowledge base and expertise. The organization I have derived from it is most valuable.



5. This is an excellent book by Thomas as he thoroughly takes you through the process of purchasing an investment property. He provides a wealth of resources on nearly every aspect of investing by listing websites and addresses.
   
   His forms are great for providing you with an idea for approaching home owners. However, the tone of the letters are some what dismissive--but that's just my opinion.
   
   The only area that needs enhancing is providing one with an idea as to estimate value in the property. He does not provide as much detail as others (i.e., Steve Berges "The Complete Guide to Real Estate Finance for Investment Properties"). With that said, it is an excellent resource and I highly recommend it.

5 comments about Real Estate Investing for Dummies.

1. I was amazed at how quickly I received this book. The book was in excellent shape.



2. This book is stupendous! It covers a tremendous amount of information to get you started in real estate investing. My wife and I are starting a real estate holding company and this book has been the foundation of our learning.
   
   The only strange thing about the book is that for some reason the authors decided to only use the feminine pronouns "she" or "her" when referring to general individuals, such as "It's very difficult for an owner to lose her home and it's often even more difficult for her to..."
   
   At first this was just odd, but it became a real distraction and annoyance that they never use "he or she" or the common practice in English of using the male pronoun for such situations.
   
   Despite this sort of printed verbal tick, this is an excellent book with a lot of information.



3. Real Estate Investing for Dummies is yet another excellent real estate book in the Dummies series. I have "Home Buying for Dummies" and "Property Management for Dummies." Both are highly valued, and frequently utilized, volumes in my investing library.
   
   I have long thought that "Real Estate Investing" by McLean and Eldred was perhaps the top book for beginning real estate investors. But after reading "Real Estate Investing for Dummies," I now think the Dummies is equally as good, although it may not cover quite as much ground. Dummies is excellent in what it presents because it written in a manner that is easily understood, it provides sufficent depth, and it covers the key topics.
   
   I particularly like the chapter on "Due Diligance." The chapter does an outstanding job of describing the components of reviewing books and records, and inspecting a property that you have bid on and have had the bid accepted by the seller. Purchase contracts provide that the sale can be canceled without loss of earnest money if the buyer's physical inspection isn't satisfactory. Following the suggestions in this chapter assure that you won't be surprised with what you get, and gives tips on how to cancel or renogiate the deal, if you need to.
   
   I also like the final chapter, which lays out in plain English the time tested (non-infomercial guru) principals of how to make money in real estate. Buy when market conditions are conducive to buying, when properties are distressed and available as forclosures or on favorable terms with seller financing. Add value to properties. Hold on to properties that offer long-tem stable growth in rental rates. Refinance to tap into investment property equity and to further your real estate investments.
   
   Good solid advice.



4. This book is super if you are considering real estate as an investment. I like it so much, I take it with me virtually everywhere I go! It is a suberb resource and caters to almost everyone in every situation! A great book and will definitely get my use out of it! Delivery was super fast too!



5. Authors Eric Tyson and Robert S. Griswold (the 'S' stands for '$old') do an excellent job of breaking down the often confusing and risky world of real estate. As one of the "common man" I wanted to learn about buying and selling land and hopefully seeing quite a return on my investment. I'm happy to report that this book is a simple entertaining and educational read.
   
   Real estate has always been a fascination for me. When I was 5-years old I remember my father telling me, "Son, stocks may rise and fall, utilities and transportation systems may collapse. People are no damn good, but they will always need land and they'll pay through the nose to get it!"
   
   "Remember," My father said, "...LAND."
   
   Those words still resound with me today. And, after reading Real Estate Investing for Dummies I've slowly been buying land east of the San Andreas Fault, so if indeed the "big one" hits, I'll see quite an increase in my initial investment as I'm sitting on the new west coast.
   
   For people interested in my strategy I'd also like to recommend the book -Predicting Earthquakes: A Scientific and Technical Evaluation - with Implications for Society by The Assembly of Mathematical and Physical Sciences.

5 comments about Home Buying For Dummies, 3rd edition.

1. This book goes without saying that it covers all the basics and provides additional information through web links. This is my 4th Dummy book and will continue to use it as a reference for many years to come! Easy read, funny at times without being to cheesy. Kudos to the authors again for another quality book!
   
   Read this book in any fashion you like and mark points down to inquire with Realtors, loan officer, appraisers and inspectors... You'll make some mad for being informed and catch others trying to lie or sugar coat it to you!



2. it is a must read if you are a first time home buyer. I knew what to ask, what to expect. I am not money savvy, but the morgage section is simple enough that I feel that helped me getting the best deal possible.



3. If you've never bought a home before, buy this book. It gives you a good overview of many areas of the homebuying process. If the thought of purchasing your first home is a bit daunting, educate yourself. This doesn't give you every single detail that you need to know, but it will help you ask informed questions and lead you on your way.



4. I recently ordered several mortgage books as learning and reference tools as I embark on my new career as a loan officer. I have not read any of the books from cover to cover, but they are serving me well for the purpose intended. The book arrived in a timely manner and in the condition described.



5. Full of interesting things about home buying. I wish that in some parts it would have gone more in depth. But in the end I felt like I learned a lot from this book.

5 comments about Rich Dad's Advisors®: The ABC's of Real Estate Investing: The Secrets of Finding Hidden Profits Most Investors Miss (Rich Dad's Advisors).

1. If you are serious about investing in real estate and/or making money at it, then you must read this book. Anything associated with Robert Kyosaki is worth reading.



2. Rich Dad Poor Dad was great...this is not.
   
   The title of this book is totally misrepresentative of the contents. This book is about buying huge apartment buildings all over the US. Not what I would call ABC's of real estate investing. Furthermore, if you are buying apartment buildings then you are probably too advanced for this book anyway.
   
   The book is very basic and is easy to read. If you just want to get excited about the idea of real estate investing jump in.
   
   If you want something to actually teach you about real estate investing grab a book like "Investing in Real Estate" by McLean and Eldred. Also check out the podcast "Get Real, Real Estate Investing for the Rest of Us".



3. The book was very clear from beginning to end on how to invest in Apartment Complex's! It was step by step and logical. I would feel very comfortable using this book as my sole reference in evaluating and purchasing apartment complexes!!



4. Very simple to read and understand. Practical sound writen plans for real estate investing. Do recomend this book for any one interested in learning the real life basic's in begining real estate investing as a business small to large. Realistic reading of expearance. Made very good since. A straigt forward book of good information.



5. This was a thorough book. The author has real-life experience doing exactly what he writes about. He gives excellent advice on how to find the diamonds in the rough, and how to do 99% of your research BEFORE you spend a dime. I recommend this book to anyone in the industry. Fabulous!

5 comments about Be a Real Estate Millionaire: Secret Strategies To Lifetime Wealth Today.

1. It helps me to learn something I have never heard of before about real estate. Although investing in real estate can make money, I wish the author had addressed the taxes and closing costs associated with real estate transactions. I would imagine a lot of the real-life stories might not look as rosy as the author claimed.



2. I have read two books recently, the first one was 'Slash' by the famed Guns N' Roses guitarist and this book by Dean Graziosi, real estate mogul, telling me that I, too, can make millions in real estate. After reading both I have come to this conclusion............I'm joining a rock band!!!



3. 
   This book is not the best book ever written about real estate. More or less it is an advertisement for his real estate course. He does offer a little incite into real estate, but not enough to start investing.



4. I saw a TV ad on this book and ordered it along with all the other items that I let them talk me into because it was a "special deal" since I was new.
   As a real estate agent, I am looking for new ideas on a regular basis with plans to start flipping homes.
   I should have done my homework on Dean Graziousis as when it was all said and done, I found the book to be mostly hype and a whole lot of bragging on Dean Graziosis and what a wonderful person he is. I really cannot tell you much more about the book other than he "walks on water" in his own mind.
   I did plan on keeping the book but I attempted to return some of the products and I have never been treated so rudely in my life!! It took 50 to 60 phone calls and the best I ever received was you have called the wrong department and when I finally reached the right one, all I received was being HUNG UP ON!
   Now I am a mature adult and run my own business and I have never hung up on a customer, ever! I just cannot imagine a person who claims to care so much about people, being so shielded by hundreds of different call answering companies, most of who have no clue what you are talking about. I was supposed to get a web page with the order, was supposed to be able to cancel the "Foreclosure Alert" program, etc. I was charged repeatedly as there was no way to get through to anyone who knew anything.
   All I can say is there are a lot of honest, experienced writers out there but if you want really good advise "stay away from Dean Graziousi's and anything he has to offer, especially his good deals!



5. Dean Graziosi seems to be the only legitimate real estate guru out there today. All the others want to sell you their book, or initial information cheaply, then all they want to do is keep up-selling you more and more junk for hundreds or even thousands of dollars, from seminars, to home study programs to weekend-long "boot-camps!" Dean is different. I bought his "Think A Little Different" course off a TV info-mercial last week BEFORE I even bought his book. The book is great to get you started. He even says right in the book that you are welcome to continue your education with his courses, etc..., but he also tells you that the book is all you need to get started! The book steps you through your first real estate transaction and lays the foundation for a successful real estate investing career. I have tried Carleton Sheets and Ron Legrand with no success at all, but Dean Graziosi is the REAL DEAL!