Rating: Summary: Explains why real estate is the best investment Review: If you are looking for a book that explains the WHY of real estate, then this book is for you. It does that job better than any other book that I know of.You will also find some technical information. For beginning and all investors, the 100/3/1 rules alone is worth the price of this book. Even as a veteran investor, I found the chapters on how to massively increase the value of your property and how to manage your property quite illuminating. This is a good book that lives up to the Rich Dad series tradition. I also recommend Real Estate Loopholes.
Rating: Summary: Not a HOW to, but more of a WHY to. Review: The main purpose of this book, as the author clearly states in the beginning of it, is not to tell you how to invest in real estate but more why you want to invest in real estate vs. the stock market and other investments. The author clearly knows what he's talking about, and his insights into the tax loopholes and financing options a real estate investor has are more than worth the price of the book. If you're a beginner, this is a great book to start out with. It's not going to tell you what to do, but it is going to tell you why you want to do it and give you some insight into the virtually unlimited leverage options a real estate investor enjoys as compared to a stock market investor who might as well take his/her money to Vegas. If there's any doubt in your mind that real estate is the way to go, read this. I'd even recommend it for experienced real estate investors, for the reason that even though you won't learn anything new on how to go about your business, you might learn a few things about creative financing and tax loopholes that you'll wish you had known all along. Buy this book, read it over a weekend, then lend it to friends. It's not the real estate bible of the universe, but it is definitely worth reading if for nothing more than the author's upbeat, positive outlook and enjoyable writing style. I especially like the author's anecdote about how he went through all those years of college to get a Ph. D. in engineering, then when he received his Ph. D. he was offered a job at $32,000 a year (this was the early 80's, I think, so that was a good starting salary for an engineer back then). But the week before he was offered the job, he had conpleted a real estate deal in which he made $35,000. So he turned down the job and to this very day has never had a job. Imagine that..... living your whole life without ever having to rent out your labor to the Man for a pittance and put up with the expectations of some moronic, terminally blue-collar boss. This guy has never had a job. He has always made his money--more than enough of it--working for himself rather than slaving away for fifty hours a week making someone else rich. I recommend this book. It's definitely worth reading. I'm glad I have it.
Rating: Summary: Real Estate Investment Basics Review: I read the original Rich Dad, Poor Dad and had high hopes for this book. I was a little disappointed by it, though. Yes, it does have some good information but it seems to be more general principles rather than specific information that could be used. It felt to me like a pamphlet that had been padded out into a book. If you're an absolute beginner (like me) then it's probably worth it but I suspect more experienced property investors may find it too basic. One other criticism I have is that at times the book came across like an advertising vehicle for some of Dolf de Roos' other books. More than once I was irritated to read something along the lines of "there are dozens of different ways of doing such-and-such, read my other book <Insert Name Here> to find out what they are." Having said all that the book does have some good information. Some of his principles will stick with me, such as: You make your profit when you buy, not when you sell; Buy from a motivated seller (who needs a sale) to get the best value; Seldom sell (to avoid taxes and transaction costs); You need to look at 100 houses to find the one bargain. The last principle particularly impressed me, Dolf is not claiming that this is a get rich quick scheme that allows money to fall into your lap without any work. Overall, worth it for beginners but I suspect if you've read a few other property investment books this won't give you any new insights.
Rating: Summary: Lukewarm Review: Real estate is undoubtedly important for building wealth. Dr. De Roos suggests repeatedly in this volume that people can enjoy quite enhanced property values by making improvements that are not costly. This general way of thinking is important and very valuable. So, this book is one of very many mass market books that offer some introduction to generally correct ways of thinking regarding real estate. On the other hand, essentially all the critical pieces of practical implementation seem to be missing. In Dr. De Roos' market, it is possible to enjoy great increases of value by cheap construction of covered parking. That may not hold true in every market. It is so important to be able to assess your own particular market correctly. At the level of books intended for quite a general audience, I much prefer Diane Kennedy's book. For more clarity on "how to," the best book I've found is the ponderous volume by Michael Geltner and ? Miller on Commercial Real Estate. It isn't easy reading, really, but, then, a person doesn't expect to attain professional status trivially. Don't you agree?
Rating: Summary: great! Review: So, it is my first time that I read English written book from cover to cover. This is what I don't make often even in my own language. It is very good start for becoming idea of real estate investing.
Rating: Summary: More Garbage From Kiyosaki and His Minions Review: This Amway lackey and his cronies peddle nothing but mindless garbage for all of you 5 star reviewers who can't get enough of the Kiyosaki Kool-Aid to lap up. I have to imagine that most of you are unemployed and living in your parents' basement or garage. "RK", as many of you like to call him, has made most if not all of his fortune pushing his useless and fictitious [product.] Do a little research and you'll find that there is no documentary evidence to support any of the investment activities he purports to have excelled in. Grow up and read some advice from people who have been there and actually done it(e.g. John Reed, Leigh Robinson, William Nickerson). Anyone who believes that Kiyosaki and his merry band...have "enlightened" them needs to take a cold shower and have their head examined. I almost fainted when I heard Kiyosaki charges $...for a three day real estate seminar. Anyone who would pay a dime to get advice from this snake oil salesman should be institutionalized.
Rating: Summary: Don't Buy This Book Review: This book gives you no information regarding real estate what-so-ever. The author goes on and on about how wonderful Real Estate Is. We all know Real Estate is Great, but we also know that it takes money to make money. That is one thing that this author does not understand. We all know that your banker WILL NOT lend you money, unless you have money. This author makes money in book sales and seminar sales. He doesn't make money in real estate. Try buying a HOW-TO book, not a WHY-TO Book. NOT A GOOD READ.
Rating: Summary: Real Estate Riches Review: This was the first book I ever read on real estate, and at the time, I found the book to be very motivational and enjoyable to read. After having bought a couple of properties and read a few more books on real estate, I have come to re-evaluate the book. This book is only helpful if you are just starting out in real estate and want to obtain some VERY VERY general knowledge in the field. If you have ANY experience in real estate at all, don't bother reading this book. You won't learn anything new.
Rating: Summary: A good intro, but could be more balanced Review: I really enjoyed reading this book, for the main reason that it made some light bulbs turn on in my head. I thought that it would have been better if it had been more balanced, but overall I thought it was well worth the time and money. My background is as a quant researcher in the equities business, where people live and die if they can or can not beat the S&P by a couple percent a year. This book turned me on to the uses of 1) leverage and 2) tax strategies. Together, these will allow you to do _much_ better in real estate than the S&P. I thought de Roos came off as a bit of a cheerleader, and thought the book would have been better if he put in some caution to be thoughtful and diligent. Perhaps a story or two of deals gone bad, rather than lots of tales of snatching properties for 10-50% of market value, would have made the book more balanced, and thus more credible. Overall though, I've become really excited since reading this book. I will obviously have to go buy other books to get more details, and I will have to learn by doing. But I have now received the required ZING! to get me to really think about real estate.
Rating: Summary: Let's get real here. Review: Sorry, but there's is just no way that one can simply refinance every few years to pull out their equity for the purchase of new property, and then just go on with life. The author doesn't even care to mention the higher mortgage payment and what YOU are going to do about that. This book does alot to get you all hyped up, but there are absolutely no details or mention of real-life issues or worst case scenarios? I own almost all of the Rich Dad series, and in my opinion this is the absolute worst!
|