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Summary: Straight shooting guide
Review: I think you will get more straight shooting useable advice and method from this book than any other book on the market (at least among all of those that I have read). I found it readable and methodical. Although it covers a great deal of the details of investing, I best liked the step-by-step approach. The book won't tell you exactly what you should do. But it will guide you to developing a sound plan of your own.
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Summary: Nuts and Bolts Approach to Rental Real Estate
Review: This recently updated edition is a good resource for the beginning real estate investor. If you're tired of anemic returns from the stock market and are looking to invest your money someplace where it won't be pillaged by an option-crazed executive, this book paints a realistic picture of what to expect in Real Estate. It starts with a detailed explanation of your basic rental scenarios and expands into a good fundamental discussion of foreclosures and other distressed properties as well. While the book starts with some of the typical "rah-rah real estate," jargon, it rapidly develops into a smooth-reading and useful resource.
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Summary: Best overview
Review: Among all of the real estate books that I have read, this one gives the best overview with plenty of details to illustrate the basics. By "overview" I don't mean glib generalities. I mean the book tells you how to think about the properties your're looking at; how to compare and evaluate them; and how to realistically set and work towards your goals. In contrast to Pasadena below--who failed to read the book-- I can assure you that these authors do give you vey practical advice, yet do so without the mindless "do this, do that" approach common in this genre.
Rating:
Summary: Thumbs up!
Review: The reviewer from King of Prussia, PA obviously only read the first chapter, which compared investing in real estate and stocks. This is the most honest, comprehensive and informative real estate book I've read to date.
McLean & Eldred are not get-rich-quick/nothing down gurus. These guys know what they're talking about.
I recommend this book to everyone serious about entering the world of real estate investing.
Rating: 
Summary: Didn't live up to expectations
Review: I will admit that I only read the first quarter of this book carefully and skimmed the rest. The book begins by discussing real estate and other forms of investment. This discussion CLEARLY shows that the authors do not fully understand the other forms of investment they criticize, or they are intentionally misleading the readers into thinking real estate is the one and only way to invest. I don't think either possibility speaks well of the authors or the book.I am also left with the feeling that the authors have an academic knowledge of the subject but little real world experience. They present the formulas everyone should calculate and the basic information someone should know when deciding to invest in property, but there is little or no insight presented from their own personal experience. I think these authors write about real estate, but don't do much else with it (at least 10 books authored between the two of them). I don't suggest this book. There is little real world experience presented, and most subjects could be classified as "master of the obvious." The only part of the book I consider useful are the equations for evaluating a perspective property, but I feel that all of this material is better covered by Friednam and Harris's "Keys to Investing in Real Estate."
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Summary: Excellent overview of real estate investing-and easy to read
Review: I haven't invested in real estate yet, but after reading this book, I feel like I've got a grasp of the basic concepts. It's a very well-written and organized text. Provided a perfect introduction to the world of real estate investing. I imagine it will also come in very handy as a reference when I've become an owner.
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Summary: Great book, great professor
Review: Full disclosure: Dr. Eldred was my professor of real estate when I was in the Stanford M.B.A. program. Unfortunately, I never put his advice and teachings to work.I was too busy with stocks and investment banking.But, having been downsized with the slaughter on Wall Street, I've now decided to turn to real estate and by coincidence I ran across Dr. Eldred's book. I strongly recommend it. Just like the professor himself, this book brims with practical wisdom and a cogently reasoned approach to investing. I only wish I had put this advice into action 15 years ago. I've learned from hard experience that monied investors need to diversify into income properties--and small investors need real estate to provide the income and security that they can't get with stocks or Social Security.
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Summary: L.A. Times is right
Review: The 12/31/01 (Sunday) Los Angeles Times rated this book as the best on real estate investing. I bought it. I agree. It covers everything a new investor needs to know to get started.It gives a good number of creative tips that no other book I've read covers. Not everything you need to know period. But a great read for beginners or even someone with more experience.
Rating:
Summary: Practical and sensible
Review: Makes the best case that I have seen that owning a few rental properties can provide you a secure retirement. Then carries forward to show you how to develop a real estate strategy to get there.Straightforward, practical, without pie-in-the-sky promises that "nothing down can make you rich." Great down to earth explanations backed by obviously well-experienced investors.
Rating:
Summary: Good solid book
Review: Among all of the books on real estate investing, this one gives you the best solid introduction. Once you decide the exact strategy you wish to pursue, you will want more specialized detail (like on renovations). I also liked the authors' approach in that they tell you how to really analyze your local market to develop ideas that will likely yield the best profits. I detest books that lay out step by step the author's suppossed "secrets to success"--when in fact that strategy might not work in a different place or time. ( One book I read told me to only buy 3-BR, 2-BTH, brick houses. We don't even have brick houses here!)
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