The conservative, thoughtful, thrifty investor?s guide to building a real-estate empire.

Profitable real-estate investing opportunities exist everywhere as long as you know what to look for and understand how to make prudent deals that transform property into profits. David Crook, of The Wall Street Journal, shows how to make safe and sane investments that ensure a good night?s sleep as your real-estate portfolio grows, your properties appreciate and your income increases. The Wall Street Journal Complete Real-Estate Investing Guidebook offers the most authoritative information on:

? Why real-estate investing is a great wealth-building alternative to stocks and bonds and why it?s crucial that you avoid get-rich schemes
? How to get the financing and make the contacts to get started
? How to start small and local, be hands-on and go step-by-step with a vacation home to rent out, a pure rental property or a small apartment building
? How to find and value great properties, do the numbers and ensure you have that beautiful thing called cash flow
? How the government blesses real-estate investors with tax breaks and loopholes, and how you can be one of the anointed
? How to deal with the nuts-and-bolts of being a landlord and have a strife-free relationship with your tenants

Author: David Crook
Paperback:  256 pages
Company: Three Rivers Press  (2006-12-26) (2006-12-26)
ISBN: 0307345629
List Price: $14.95
Amazon Price: $7.99
Used Price: $7.57

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.

Author: Andrew McLean, Gary W. Eldred
Paperback:  352 pages
Company: Wiley  (2005-11-18)
ISBN: 0471741205
List Price: $19.95
Amazon Price: $10.00
Used Price: $8.91

"This is simply the best book on the topic.?
—Randall Bell, Author, Home Owner's Manual

"Tyson and Griswold have truly opened the world of real estate investing to all by tackling often complex issues in this easy to understand and use book. I can't think of a better way to get smart about building wealth through rental properties than to read their excellent Real Estate Investing For Dummies!"
—Vern Hoven, CPA

Non-prime time TV is cluttered with infomercials about how you can buy non-prime real estate for next to nothing and get rich quick. Common sense should tell you that?s an exaggeration. (If common sense doesn?t tell you, bankers will.) Nevertheless, it is possible to get rich gradually by investing in real estate. Long term, you can expect to realize an annual return of 8 to 10% a year.

Real Estate Investing for Dummies gives you the keys to successful real estate investment, whether it?s in single family homes and condos, apartments, vacation homes, commercial properties (office, industrial, and retail), raw land, or REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts). With guidance from authors Eric Tyson, MBA, a financial counselor, and Robert S. Griswold, a veteran real estate investor, you?ll discover how to:

• Find and buy the best properties at a fair price
• Capitalize on opportunities such as foreclosures, no money down deals, auctions, tax sales, and more
• Secure financing and good mortgage terms
• Value, evaluate, and negotiate everything to do with real estate
• Work with agents and other professionals
• Project income potential and cash flow
• Handle contracts, inspections, and closings

Whether you?re interested in a fixer supper for rental, premier office space you can lease, or a vacation home you can enjoy and rent, when you become a buyer, you also become a landlord. That means you can hear from tenants any time, night or day. It means you may not hear from them when the rent is due. Real Estate Investing for Dummies also helps you:

• Find and keep good tenants
• Negotiate lease agreements
• Insure and maintain your property
• Keep good records for tax and accounting purposes

Remember, with any deal, you have to know when to hold them and know when to fold them. So Real Estate Investing for Dummies gives you guidelines on when and how to sell and how to reinvest to build wealth. It also lists 10 real estate investments you shouldn?t touch with a 10-foot pole. Especially if you?re tempted by those late-night infomercials, that warning could save you a fortune!

Author: Eric Tyson, Robert S. Griswold
Paperback:  358 pages
Company: Wiley Publishing, Inc.  (2007-01-07)
ISBN: 0764525654
List Price: $21.99
Amazon Price: $6.99
Used Price: $6.25

Quit your day job!

Make a million in real estate!

It's easier than you think!

A few years ago, Matthew Martinez was a lot like you - he worked hard to make as big a salary as he could. But it wasn't enough. He worked by the clock, and yearned to be his own boss. With a small amount of savings, he acquired his first rental property. Two years later, he was making more from his rentals than he was working 9 to 5, so he quit his day job to oversee his real estate investments. Today, he enjoys a multi-million-dollar collection of income-producing properties--and he's ready to share his money-making strategies so you can begin your own journey to career and financial independence.

Two Years to a Million in Real Estateshows you everything you need to know, including how to

• Invest small amounts early-on while working a full-time job
• Avoid real estate ?bubble? risks
• Get others to pay your mortgage for you
• Pick a hot property (and spot others that will become hot)
• Simplify the ins-and-outs of financing
• Negotiate like a pro
• Screen for reliable tenants
• Understand how local tenant laws work
• Hire good people to manage your properties
• Know when to sell

Author: Matthew A. Martinez
Paperback:  256 pages
Company: McGraw-Hill  (2006-05-12)
ISBN: 0071471871
List Price: $21.95
Amazon Price: $11.82
Used Price: $11.72

Formulas that make the difference between making profits and losing equity

The only way to win the real estate investing game is by mastering the numbers. This revised and updated edition of the popular reference shows how to target the best investments in the present market. It answers all your real estate questions, and provides new discussions of capital accumulation and internal rate of return. This book?s basic formulas will help you measure critical aspects of real estate investments, including

• Discounted Cash Flow
• Net Present Value
• Capitalization Rate
• Cash-on-Cash Return
• Net Operating Income
• Internal Rate of Return
• Profitability Index
• Return on Equity
  
  Author: Frank Gallinelli
  Paperback:  312 pages
  Company: McGraw-Hill  (2008-09-08)
  ISBN: 0071603271
  List Price: $22.95
  Amazon Price: $13.65
  Used Price: $13.97
  

Thinking about becoming a commercial real estate investor? Commercial Real Estate Investing For Dummies covers the entire process, offering practical advice on negotiation and closing win-win deals and maximizing profit. From office buildings to shopping centers to apartment buildings, it helps you pick the right properties at the right time for the right price.

Yes, there is a fun and easy way to break into commercial real estate, and this is it. This comprehensive handbook has it all. You?ll learn how to find great properties, size up sellers, finance your investments, protect your assets, and increase your property?s value. You?ll discover the upsides and downsides of the various types of investments, learn the five biggest myths of commercial real estate investment, find out how to recession-proof your investment portfolio, and more. Discover how to:

• Get leads on commercial property investments
• Determine what a property is worth
• Find the right financing for you
• Handle inspections and fix problems
• Make big money in land development
• Manage your properties or hire a pro
• Exploit the tax advantages of commercial real estate
• Find out what offer a seller really-really wants
• Perform due diligence before you make a deal
• Raise capital by forming partnerships

Investing in commercial property can make you rich in any economy. Get Commercial Real Estate For Dummies, and find out how.

Author: Peter Conti, Peter Harris
Paperback:  384 pages
Company: For Dummies  (2008-01-03)
ISBN: 0470174919
List Price: $21.99
Amazon Price: $11.81
Used Price: $12.02

Start making money today ---with the ultimate guide for first-time investors

No matter what the market does, real estate stilloffers plenty of moneymaking opportunities. In thisnew edition of The Beginner's Guide to RealEstate Investing, Gary W. Eldred presents the toolsand knowledge new investors need to get started profitably. Packed with smart moneymakingstrategies and real-life stories from successfulinvestors, this edition also covers the latestinformation on financing, foreclosures, cash flow, and much more. You'll not only master the basics ofinvesting, but also discover specialized techniques that the pros rely on to grow their long-term wealth. Concise yet comprehensive, this practical guide shows you how to:
*

Find great deals on properties with big potential
*

Get started with low- or no-down payment financing
*

Utilize creative financing options and otherpeople's money
*

Buy low-cost foreclosures and REOs
*

Make value-adding improvements to any property
*

Craft winning offers and negotiate like a pro
*

Manage rental properties hassle-free
*

Flip investment properties for fast profit


In addition, Eldred shows you how to tailor yourinvestment strategy to make money almost anywhere, in any type of market. With proven tech-niques, timeless principles, and totally up-to-dateinformation, The Beginner's Guide to Real EstateInvesting, Second Edition is the perfect place to start building a prosperous future --- today.

Author: Gary W. Eldred
Paperback:  312 pages
Company: Wiley  (2008-03-03)
ISBN: 047018342X
List Price: $16.95
Amazon Price: $9.51
Used Price: $9.47

Author: Paul M. Hecht
Paperback:  184 pages
Company: Inspired Wealth Corp  (2007-12-01)
ISBN: 0976930064
List Price: $17.95
Amazon Price: $11.06
Used Price: $11.37

?Matthew's newest book, Investing in Apartment Buildings, couldn't have come at a more poignant time in our lives. He offers a modern day, step-by-step survival guide for the ever growing economic war on the middle-class. Win your own financial war by arming yourself with Matthew's systematic, hands-on experience and sound principals for investing in apartment buildings.?.
--Ryan Zahoruiko, principal, Forest Street Property LLC

. . .

?Matt Martinez is able to take the complicated world of real estate investing and put it into terminology that the average person is able to understand. Understand the acquisition of apartment buildings is not an easy task but Matt makes it clear and concise in his book. He gives the reader the tools, knowledge, and desire; it is only up to the reader to follow what he reads to give him success.? .
--Seth Heller, VP of Acquisitions, GREC Conversions LTD

. . .

?Matt Martinez makes a compelling case as to why real estate investing remains the best path to financial independence. Investing In Apartment Buildings provides step by step advice that gives newcomers to real estate investment the practical advice they need to learn the business from the ground up. The Chapter Summaries provide an excellent tool to focus the reader and the real life ?war stories? provide great context for each lesson. If you want to get started in developing an independent income stream Investing In Apartment Buildings should find a place on your bookshelf.?.
--Jordan C. Paul, CEO Aquila Property Company, Inc.

. . .

?I bought my first rental property around 1990. Since that time I've bought, operated and sold more than 3,000 apartment units which have generated more than $30MM in net profits. If I would have had Matt's book in 1990 I could have avoided dozens of pitfalls and accelerated my growth MUCH FASTER...".
--David F. Atkins, president, Alexander Forrest Properties

. . .

?Matthew Martinez has done it again! His books are clear, compelling, and always offer tremendous knowledge and value for anyone wishing to get into the real estate market. Speaking from experience, Matthew, provides great insight into real estate investing and you'll even get to read personal email exchanges from Matthew's treasured mentor.?.
--Phoebe Chongchua, real estate columnist

. . . . .

?Matt has really hit the target; a concise, complete and organized approach to investing in this asset class. Apartments, with their short lease terms, are true inflation hedges and this book can help your investment approach, whether new to the business or a seasoned veteran. He really gets it, and you will too.".
--Gary Kachadurian, chairman, Apartment Realty Advisors

. . .

?A must read for anyone looking to invest in apartment communities. Matt's book is both informative and interesting!".
--Mark H. Stern, senior vice president of acquisitions, Waterton Residential

. .

?An outstanding summary of the key principles of real estate investment and wealth accumulation. Matt Martinez has the unique ability to transform sophisticated ideas and concepts into highly readable and entertaining prose. This is required reading for anyone serious about learning the basics of apartment building investment in these complex times.".
--Richard N. Bernstein, attorney and principle shareholder, Greenberg Traurig LLP

. . .

?Because of Martinez' s vast understanding of the real estate industry's many nuances, he is able to provide real and sustainable advice for investment professionals and novices alike. Martinez will show you where the rubber meets the road when it comes to multi-unit success. Buy this book!".
--Charles Byron Andrews, founder of Blue Coast Asset Management

. . .

?This is an outstanding guide for those who are interested in investing in apartment buildings. Matt Martinez has created a well-thought-out and informative book for the novice, intermediate and experienced multi-unit apartment investor. He discuses in great detail farm areas, sourcing properties, value-add deals, property management, value determinations, financial analysis and underwriting guidelines, negotiating strategies and how to succeed in this challenging but rewarding business. He also uses real-life examples to help the reader better understand the principles he teaches. This is an outstanding book that anyone who is seriously interested in apartment buildings must read!.
--Rob Sena, partner, Alterra Capital Group

. . .

?When I started in real estate investing, Matt Martinez sat down with me and explained how to do things properly. His guidance gave me both the analytical framework and courage to succeed. In fact, I just bought my third apartment building. This book encapsulates much of his wisdom and is definitely a must read for anyone serious about real estate investing..
--Ben Goodman, founder, FastForwards Management LLC

. .

?Investing in Apartment Buildings is not only another story of success, but one that lets you profit from Matthew Martinez's experience. The writing style makes you feel like you're talking with a friend. This book provides a great description of the current industry's situation, ideas to capture opportunities and tools to assess each investment. It represents a very compelling guide to help you ask the right questions and understand the answers when considering real estate deals..
--Javier Dborkin, director, Boston Andes Capital

. . .

?Any seasoned multifamily investor will tell you that the fortunes you hear about are made and lost in the details. Many of the lessons I have learned through years of trial and error have been clearly laid out in a highly accessible format in Matt Martinez's Investing in Apartment Buildings.".
--Matt Wanderer, principal, Alterra Capital Group

. . .

?Matt's approach to investing in Multi-Family Apartments is concise, strategic, and up-to-date. This book is well thought-out and informative for today's multi-family investors. Matt knows what he is talking about. His book is a must read.".
--Joel Webb, founder of TheCreativeInvestor.com

.

Author: Matthew Martinez
Paperback:  240 pages
Company: McGraw-Hill  (2008-10-21)
ISBN: 0071498869
List Price: $24.95
Amazon Price: $13.74
Used Price: $17.03

If you're interested in real estate investing, you may have noticed notice the lack of coverage it gets in mainstream financial media, while stocks, bonds, and mutual funds are consistently touted as the safest and most profitable ways to invest. According to real estate guru Ken McElroy, that's because financial publications, tv and radio programs make the bulk of their money from advertising paid for by the very companies who provide such mainstream financial services. On the other hand, real estate investment is something you can do on your own--without a large amount of money up front! Picking up where left off in the bestselling The ABC's of Real Estate Investing, McElroy reveals the next essential lessons and information that no serious investor can afford to miss. Building on the foundation of real estate investment 101, McElroy tells readers:

• How to think--and operate--like a real estate mogul
  
• "The Top Ten Real Estate Markets to Watch"
  
• How to identify and close expert deals
  
• Why multifamily housing is the best real estate investment out there
  
• How to surround yourself with a team that will help maximize your money
  
• How to avoid paying thousands in taxes by structuring property sales wisely
  
• Important projections about the future of real estate investment


• And more.

Author: Ken McElroy
Paperback:  176 pages
Company: Business Plus  (2008-05-29)
ISBN: 0446538329
List Price: $16.99
Amazon Price: $9.14
Used Price: $9.10