Rating: 
Summary: Every real estate investor should read it
Review: I've read a lot of books on real estate investing and they generally fall into two catogories: 1. Old, generic and out of date or 2. "Pie in the Sky"This book is in its own category - practical, thorough AND full of new, creative ideas. This is definitely not a "pie in the sky" book on real estate (I read some other reviews here and I just don't understand how someone could even suggest that about this book). The basic premise of the book is based on "quick-turning" properties for cash. I like this idea, since I have no aspirations of becoming a landlord. The book has a great chapter on rehabbing, but the focus is really on flipping junker properties to other investors who will do the rehab work. The first few chapters cover the legal details of real estate transactions, which is something few books cover. I really like the practical comments the authors reveal based on their obvious experience in real estate. The forms in the back of the book are worth 5x the price of the book. My only complaint, however, is that I wish they were available on CD-ROM (I emailed one of the authors and he informed me that I would have to buy a more expensive course to get the forms on disk).
Rating: 
Summary: The content of this book is rather weak.
Review: This is a weak book. 1. The font size has been made big to make the book span more pages. There is content for perhaps 70 pages of normal sized text. 2. The writing is not insightful. There is no real substance to the cliches the writer keeps offering.
This book is one of those self-help books that tries to make you feel good about yourself, but gives very little concrete knowledge. I do not know how much one could say about property flipping anyhow. As a concept it is interesting to know, as an investment tool it surely ain't for most people. If you are interested about flipping properties (doing fast deals with them), then perhaps you should buy this one. Atleast it is a cheap way to get introduced to a concept. If you are looking for insightful view on the real-estate world, keep on searching.
I have yet to find a single good real-estate investing book so there is nothing else I could recommend you to replace this.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't buy this book
Review: This book should be titled "Flipping Properties for Dummies". I found the content to be basically the paraphrasing of a Real Estate Principals text book. It reads as if it were written in two days. In fact I felt insulted by how uninformative it was and whished I hadn't spent the money on it. On the flip side the book Investing in Real Estate, McClean,Eldred, which was offered as a pair to this book is excellent.
Rating: 
Summary: Filled with great ideas and information!
Review: This book provides a wealth of information on flipping properties -- wholesale and retail. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because I felt some of the vital details are missing. For instance, what do I do when I put a property that I want to wholesale flip under contract with a bank? Do I tell them I am making an all cash offer (if so, what do I do when they ask for proof of funds?) or do I say I am getting financing? Or something else, entirely? If I'm making a low-ball offer, they usually want great terms -- not something as risky as me trying to find an investor during escrow. So how do I word it so that I get an accepted offer? Overall I highly recommend Bill Bronchik's books and information (we've seen him at a real estate seminar in L.A. and he's a terrific speaker, as well.) I actually enjoyed the book VERY much and highly recommend it to other new investors -- or any investors who want to start flipping properties!
Rating:
Summary: Flipping real estate made easy and legal
Review: If you're interested in flipping real estate, or the quick buying and selling of property then this is the place to start. Author Bronchick, a Colorado Attorney is an very qualified investor who draws on his experiences buying and selling property and that of his clients and associates. Flipping has recently gotten notoriety from fraudulent activities of false appraisals and other fraudulent activities. The Authors tell you how to work as a flipper and do it legally. There is a glossary in the book as well as 5 appendices listig good deal checklist, sample ads, sample forms, state foreclosure guide, and internet sources. The text of the book is 154 pages and the glossary/appendices are another 55 pages. You may not find everything about flipping in this book, but this is the best place to start if you want to flip real estate, or even if your just curious to fid out more about the business. I for one would have liked to see more depth and more information about flipping in this book.
Rating:
Summary: Cheaper then the Infomercials
Review: If you're the type of person that thinks they can get rich quick, then by all means buy this book. It's much cheaper then any of the infomercials about flipping properties on TV. However, it's not a good resource for the investor who wants to learn how to acquire real estate for the long term.
After reading the first chapter I realized this isn't the way I want to buy and acquire properties. It seemed like a way to prey upon the misfortunes of others. A much better and more thorough book on property acquisitions is 'Investing in Real Estate.' Investing also tells you how to 'flip' properties, but doesn't advise it. For all the people that are making money off of flipping, many more are losing their shirts.
Rating:
Summary: From the book to the bank in 40 days!!!!
Review: I have been investing in real estate since 1977 and for the most part have fixed up run down properties and then resold them for a profit. I did it the old-fashion way. I have read many books, listened to dozens of tapes, and attended numerous seminars trying to learn new and innovative techniques that would allow me to take my investing and my net worth to the next level and at the same time take some of the toll off my body. There are dozens of tips in this book and each one can save an investor at least 100 times the cost of the book. In the past I have worked foreclosures, lease-options, and estate sales at the courthouse steps just to name some of them. But the technique I found in this book that has changed my approach to investing is to take over the property "subject to" and then sell on a installment land contract. I get money up front, increased monthly cash flow for the period of time the contract is written for, and then money on the back end when the buyer refinances and puts the loan in his/her own name. I followed the books advice and found a motivated seller about 1/2 hour from my house. I was able to get the seller to tell me exactly what it would take to solve her problems and allow her to go on with her life. I took over the deed "subject to", made up all of her back payments to the lenders on both the first and second mortgages, paid off her well pump, paid for all the new windows she had put in after a hail storm knocked them out, pay for all of the closing costs, and put $20,000 dollars in her pocket. However, as the book said, I had found a buyer immediately for the property at a price that would allow me to do all of the above and still put $24,000 in my pocket. I went from the book to the bank in under 40 days. This book has put me on the path of least resistance to reaching my financial goals. I can now make just as much money or even more on each deal and I don't have to kill myself doing all the fix-up. Now I make the money using this very powerful technique to both acquire and sell the property. I use my mind and my negotiating skills instead of a hammer, crow-bar, and paint brush. If you are new at real estate investing I believe this book will be an invaluable addition to your library and can put you well on the path to increasing your net worth in a very short period of time. This book is not the end all, but it will certainly allow you to hit the ground running. Take the information and forms in this book, and then contact your local real estate broker, tax accountant, and other members of your team to see what if any adjustments must be made in your part of the country to do exactly the same thing I am doing. Just a little research on your part can and will pay for itself many times over. If you are a more experienced investor, this book may help you to achieve the same financial success without the wear and tear on your body. This book is a very good read and I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: This stuff works and I'm living proof!
Review: I received a copy of this book when I joined my local real estate investment group earlier this year. I read it cover to cover in 2 days, then went out and did exactly what it said in the chapter on marketing. I put out 1,500 flyers and door hangers with a "We Buy Houses" message, plus a few dozen plastic lawn signs with the same message. Within a month, I received about 15-18 calls and found a real motivated seller in foreclosure. I signed up a deal with the seller and flipped the property to another investor in my local real estate association for a [$$$] profit (I used the contract provided in the book, with a few modifications recommended by my local attorney). The closing process was a little more involved than I imagined, but the basic principles taught in the book are accurate. I am now working on my second deal and should make [$$$] or so when it closes. If you are looking to get started in real estate, this book will cover all of the basic fundamentals you need. I also recommend Robert Shemin's book, "Secrets of a Millionaire Real Estate Investor."
Rating:
Summary: A Must Read for Any Real Estate Investor!
Review: This book is current, thorough and easy to read. The chapter on real estate law was worth the price of the book alone. I've read quite a few books on real estate, most of which were fluff - this one is all "meat and potatoes." The real estate forms included are a nice bonus, too. Buy this book . . . you won't be disappointed!
Rating:
Summary: Best Real Estate Paperback on the Market
Review: Robert Bruss, the nation's #1 syndicated real estate columnist gave this book a 12 on scale of 10 rating - I couldn't agree more! This book is very well written and contains a suprisingly large amount of information for a paperback. It is easy to read, yet detailed enough to cover all of the major aspects of property "flipping" for profit. One issue that is addressed early in the book is the difference between legal and illegal flipping, a topic that has created some confusion for beginning investors. This is one of the few books that covered both the business and investment aspect of real estate investing - including taxes, legal issues and how to find the right "players" in the business. I would have liked to see some more on other types of investing topics, but you can't complain considering the amount of information and free legal forms you get for the money. Bottom line - you won't find a better source for this kind of information!
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