Rating: 
Summary: Dynamic, powerful, workable stratgies that really work.
Review: "Nothing Down" is ths grandaddy of No Money Down Real Estate books. Prior to this great work by Mr. Allen, the only other significant book on real estate was by a man who turned a $1,000 into a million by the buy and hold method. Of course in todays dollars, that $1 thousand would be more like $10 thousand.Robert G. Allen offers a refreshing approach to buy real estate, turn quick cash profits while building a portfolio of homes for the future and generating cash flow now. It has been said that "Nothing Down" has probably helped more real estate people to buy property with little or no money down than any other book or program ever published. When "Nothing Down" came out in 1980, it was unique and highly criticized by certain factions. Despite that, "Nothing Down" became an immediate best seller, sold over 700,000 copies and was on the best seller list for over 100 weeks. "Nothing Down for the 90's" is completely updated and revised, with new financial strategies and newer chapters. "Nothing Down for the 90's" is even more useful for new and experienced investors. Robert Allen teaches creative financing in clear, simple language. Mr. Allen shows how anyone can locate the best buys, negotiate, deal with real estate agents and manage properties. Allen shows you how to solve your immediate cash-flow problems while building equity for the future. And the best part is, you can do it with little or none of your own money. Even the wealthy, first-time real estate investors are using these techniques. Keeping their cash in other places while using No Money Down techniques to buy properties. The author, who became a self made millionaire by using his own "Nothing Down" approach, demolishes the notion that "it takes money to make money," and offers dozens of imaginative and practical income-producing formulas. And this is possible without large down payments. Followers of Allen's techniques have been overwhelmingly successful in building up sizable equity in several properties simultaneously. The book provides specific, step by step techniques for: * Successful negotiation * Tax-free retirement in five years * Direct, legal tax cuts * Financing * Conversions * Locating bargain properties * Using inflation to your advantage * Successful property management * Selling and trading for maximum gain * Increasing property value * Overcoming the biggest roadblocks to success Nothing Down is the indispensible guide that shows you the future of wealth, prosperity, security and ultimately financial independence. If you want to buy your first home or create financial freedom via real estate investing, "Nothing Down for the 90's" is the book for you. It sure has worked for me.
Rating:
Summary: Dynamic, powerful, workable stratgies that really work.
Review: "Nothing Down" is ths grandaddy of No Money Down Real Estate books. Prior to this great work by Mr. Allen, the only other significant book on real estate was by a man who turned a $1,000 into a million by the buy and hold method. Of course in todays dollars, that $1 thousand would be more like $10 thousand. Robert G. Allen offers a refreshing approach to buy real estate, turn quick cash profits while building a portfolio of homes for the future and generating cash flow now. It has been said that "Nothing Down" has probably helped more real estate people to buy property with little or no money down than any other book or program ever published. When "Nothing Down" came out in 1980, it was unique and highly criticized by certain factions. Despite that, "Nothing Down" became an immediate best seller, sold over 700,000 copies and was on the best seller list for over 100 weeks. "Nothing Down for the 90's" is completely updated and revised, with new financial strategies and newer chapters. "Nothing Down for the 90's" is even more useful for new and experienced investors. Robert Allen teaches creative financing in clear, simple language. Mr. Allen shows how anyone can locate the best buys, negotiate, deal with real estate agents and manage properties. Allen shows you how to solve your immediate cash-flow problems while building equity for the future. And the best part is, you can do it with little or none of your own money. Even the wealthy, first-time real estate investors are using these techniques. Keeping their cash in other places while using No Money Down techniques to buy properties. The author, who became a self made millionaire by using his own "Nothing Down" approach, demolishes the notion that "it takes money to make money," and offers dozens of imaginative and practical income-producing formulas. And this is possible without large down payments. Followers of Allen's techniques have been overwhelmingly successful in building up sizable equity in several properties simultaneously. The book provides specific, step by step techniques for: * Successful negotiation * Tax-free retirement in five years * Direct, legal tax cuts * Financing * Conversions * Locating bargain properties * Using inflation to your advantage * Successful property management * Selling and trading for maximum gain * Increasing property value * Overcoming the biggest roadblocks to success Nothing Down is the indispensible guide that shows you the future of wealth, prosperity, security and ultimately financial independence. If you want to buy your first home or create financial freedom via real estate investing, "Nothing Down for the 90's" is the book for you. It sure has worked for me.
Rating:
Summary: It doesn't take money to make money
Review: A very common misconception about money is that it takes money to make money. Have you ever heard that one? I know I have, in fact, I still do. No wonder so many people are broke and unhappy! Robert Allen's landmark manifesto "Nothing Down" demolishes that old tired and untrue statement. Nothing could be further from the truth. You see the way it goes is, it does take money...but it doesn't have to be your money. With Nothing down you will learn how to buy real estate with none of your own money. You will learn how to negotiate like a pro. You will learn how to work with realtors. Although written for the 90's (1991) the methods still work today. If the real estate bubble that so many people are calling for really happens, then this information will become all that much more valuable. Great book Robert. A classic and a best seller for over 24 years. And for a reason----IT WORKS.
Rating:
Summary: The Get Rich Quicker Plan
Review: Allen's Nothing Down real estate program may not be "get rich quick" but it sure is get rich quicker. By using his "nothing down" techniques, an average person can amass a fortune very quickly...all with little or none of your own money. I was curious if Allen's methods really worked so I pulled oout the ads from the real estate section of the paper and called a few "don't wanters." Without really knowing what I was doing I found 5 sellers eager to sell me their homes with "nothing down." Folks, this stuff works.
Rating:
Summary: The Original Nothing Down book
Review: Back in the late 70's and early 80's there were only a handful of books on real estate investing. The most famous was Nickerson's "How I turned $1,000 into $1 Million." A good book that was aimed at the "buy and hold" real estate investor. Of course, in todays dollars, that $1,000 would be more like $10,000 - $20,000 initial investment and you would have to wait and wait and wait and deal with the three t's of tenants, toilets and turnover. Enter Robert Allen. Allen offers a revolutionary (at the time) set of techniques to buy real estate with little or none of your own money. The system works. It worked 24 years ago and it's still working today. I would also recommend Creating Wealth and Multiple Streams of Income by Allen and Real Estate Money Machine by Wade Cook.
Rating:
Summary: The Original Nothing Down book
Review: Back in the late 70's and early 80's there were only a handful of books on real estate investing. The most famous was Nickerson's "How I turned $1,000 into $1 Million." A good book that was aimed at the "buy and hold" real estate investor. Of course, in todays dollars, that $1,000 would be more like $10,000 - $20,000 initial investment and you would have to wait and wait and wait and deal with the three t's of tenants, toilets and turnover. Enter Robert Allen. Allen offers a revolutionary (at the time) set of techniques to buy real estate with little or none of your own money. The system works. It worked 24 years ago and it's still working today. I would also recommend Creating Wealth and Multiple Streams of Income by Allen and Real Estate Money Machine by Wade Cook.
Rating: 
Summary: Bigger fool theory!
Review: Bigger fool theory is you pay any price to buy with nothing down and the next buyer will be the bigger fool, as you will ask for a higher price or more interest (terms financing) over longer time. To make a profit, you expect to sell to some other bigger fool who will pay more in financing terms of more interest or more price. What if the market prices go down, as in 90's in California real estate dropped 20% or more. Author never mentions anything of details of any profits made from selling the properties he supposedly bought nothing down... Buyer beware on this book is caveat emptor.
Rating: 
Summary: Classic, historic, Real Estate book
Review: First written in 1980 and updated for 1990. Robert G. Allen's book has sold over a million copies and is the all time bestselling real estate book. When I first read this book in 1980, I was very impressed; and after taking Robert Allen's "Nothing Down" seminar and meeting him in person I was more impressed. Though I had bought real estate including a personal residence and investment property before reading his book, Nothing Down made an impact. The message was you can buy real estate without cash. What a great message for somebody who doesn't have any cash. There are certainly portions of this book that are out of date. He writes of 10% annual appreciation in properties, as if its etched in stone. But where I live the appreciation rate has been more like 3% on average.
Rents and purchase prices listed in the book are also out of date, as you would expect for a 13 year old book. A four unit example in the book is listed for sale at $78,000, not many of those left today. In addition there are references to the Resolution Trust Corporation, which no longer exists. Some of the techniques for Nothing Down were the result of brainstorming between the author and other investors and associates. Some of these techniques were great in theory but are difficult to apply in the real world. In one chapter of the book the author states that when you buy properties in foreclosure that "you pay sometimes 60 to 70 cents on the dollar." Two factors have affected foreclosure sales. The first factor is more and more property owners are deeper in debt and there is often little, zero, or negative equity. The second factor is that there is much more awareness of foreclosure sales and they are much better attended by investors looking for bargains. To the author's favor is his credit to John Schaub and Jack Miller for their input to the chapter of 5 year retirement. Prior to Robert Allen's "Nothing Down" there were only two significant real estate book, to my way of thinking. Those would be "How I turned $1,000 into 1 Million in Real Estate in My Spare Time" by William Nickerson (1959) and " How you can Become Financially Independent by Investing in Real Estate" by Albert J. Lowry (1977). Oh there were other books some of them were even fairly decent. But none with the impact of Nickerson and Lowry until Robert Allen, who not only spawned many real estate books, courses, and gurus of the last 20 years. There is a historical significance to "Nothing Down" by not only its message, but also what came after it and what had come before it. The Nickerson and Lowry books mentioned here are also recommended reading. The Nickerson book is harder to get and more expensive, but the Lowry book is almost as good. Allen writes in an easy to understand style, that shouts out that real estate is an investment that the average person can comprehend and accomplish goals of financial success. There are chapters in the book on paper, lots of owner financing ideas, and overcoming roadblocks. If you are just starting out in real estate this is a great first book, because if you read most other books of the last 20 years, there will be some of Robert Allen's influence there. Go to the source. If you're an experienced investor, you probably already read this book. The book is dated as mentioned before, and some of the techniques may not apply today, and some may even be illegal today, like "silent second mortgages." Mortgage seasoning was not even a term used 20 years ago, but now you hear it almost every day. Additionally the book does not mention other current aspects of real estate investment such as limits on the number of mortgages one person can have. When I first read this book in 1980 it was clearly a 5 star book. And even though I still appreciate the historical significance of this classic book, there are clearly portions of this book not updated to today; and for those flaws the rating today is 4 stars.
Rating:
Summary: Not practical
Review: First, you should know that this book was published in 1990. In fact, the bulk of the material was written almost twenty years ago. The concept of nothing down real estate investing is surely an alluring one, and I readily admit that the title is what drew my attention to the book. However, you should know if something sounds too good to be true, it is. Nothing down does not work in most metro areas, plus tax laws have changed so it's now harder to get tax breaks. Also because the housing market is hot in good areas -- and as the cliche goes, the three most important factors in buying real estate are location, location and location, and good locations don't come cheap -- the so-called negotiationg tricks in this book will NOT work. I've tried them here in the New York metro area and the lawyers, apparently familiar with the concept, laughed their heads off at my naivete. So take it from me, nothing in this book will really help you. Sure, if you put in 15 hours a day and slave away calling every seller, you might come across some old lady who bought her house 50 years ago for five grand and will now sell it to you for half a million with no money down, and her lawyer doesn't care, etc., but you might as well play the lottery each week and probably have a better chance of hitting the jackpot. Of course, reading this book does show you how much of the real estate market is dominated by greed and debt. But you already knew that, didn't you?
Rating:
Summary: excellent book
Review: Great get started book in real estate. Must read for any real estate invester. This book is very encouraging and makes investing seem perhaps easier than it really is, but it is good and accurate as far as it goes.
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