Tax Lien Certificates: A Little Known Government Program That Can Make You Financially Independent

Rating:
Summary: Not as bad as it's been made to look
Review: Despite all the reviews to the contrary, I found this book to be an excellent introduction to tax lien certificates. I think the mistake that other reviewers have made is that they expect a book on tax liens to guide you by the hand to tell you step by step how to buy a tax lien in a particular county or state you're interested in. Well, sorry to burst your bubble but any book that would include all the possible variations in the procedures followed would probably be too big to fit on your book shelf! This is a point that Jim stresses several times throughout the book - call the county you're interested in and FIND OUT how that county does it. If you're expecting to be spoon fed on how to buy certificates you'll be sadly dissappointed...Anything you could write about how to do it will probably be out of date by the time the book is published because laws change practically every day. What's needed is a general guide with some examples and the necessary information on where to get the latest on how to go about buying a tax lien. Jim has done just that. Having read several other courses, books, etc. on tax liens myself (some of which left me wondering which way was up) I can honestly say that Jim's book has done the best job of explaining tax liens - a topic that varies so much from state to state and county to county. If you want an easy, no-thought-required, way to invest your money, look elsewhere - this method requires you to actually do some work, take time to read state and county policy, thoroughly investigate....all BEFORE you spend your first dime! But it can be highly lucrative if you do your homework. This book is the way to get started...

Rating:
Summary: Painful to Read
Review: I couldn't get through this. The fourth time I read "you gotta do this!" I felt my time was better spent reading something without all the hype.

Rating:
Summary: A big disappointment - Save your money
Review: I found it to be more of a sales hype of what you could do, or what has been done, and not much of anything that could be used with any particular direction. Most of the bulk of the book is a phone and address directory of about 3,000 counties.

Rating:
Summary: A good intro to the world of Tax Liens
Review: If you are new to the world of tax liens, this book will get you started.With tax liens you can earn 16% on average and up to 50% in some states, government guaranteed.Although banks are in the act (that should tell you how safe this investment really is) there NOT really that much competition for tax liens.Many people have heard about them, few are actually working the liens.This book is great as a primer, but you will need more information.

Rating:
Summary: Could Be Better
Review: This book is a VERY basic introduction to tax lien certificates, almost too basic. When I finished reading this book, I felt as though I really was not much more educated on the subject. I had to purchase another book (The 16% Solution) to fill in the missing gaps. All in all, I am very disappointed, and I would recommend skipping it.

Rating:
Summary: A good start
Review: Yes, this is a very basic beginning to tax sales, but it really helped me to get a foot in the door. I used to know virtually nothing about tax sales, and this was the first book that I read. (I've been researching tax sales for quite a while now.) Regardless of how basic it is, I came away with the beginning of an understanding to tax sales. Some books throw you right into all of the complications and details of tax sales, but I think it's important to make sure you have the elementary concept of them in the first place.
However, after this I read "The 16 Percent Solution" by Joel Markowitz and would recommend it to anyone who already has a basic knowledge of tax sales. Also, there's a website called www.taxsale.com that teaches you even more and also shows when and where tax sales take place in each jurisdiction of every state.