2 Years to a Million in Real Estate [Paperback]

Matthew Martinez (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 12, 2006

Quit your day job!

Make a million in real estate!

It's easier than you think!

A few years ago, Matthew Martinez was a lot like you - he worked hard to make as big a salary as he could. But it wasn't enough. He worked by the clock, and yearned to be his own boss. With a small amount of savings, he acquired his first rental property. Two years later, he was making more from his rentals than he was working 9 to 5, so he quit his day job to oversee his real estate investments. Today, he enjoys a multi-million-dollar collection of income-producing properties--and he's ready to share his money-making strategies so you can begin your own journey to career and financial independence.

Two Years to a Million in Real Estateshows you everything you need to know, including how to

• Invest small amounts early-on while working a full-time job
• Avoid real estate “bubble” risks
• Get others to pay your mortgage for you
• Pick a hot property (and spot others that will become hot)
• Simplify the ins-and-outs of financing
• Negotiate like a pro
• Screen for reliable tenants
• Understand how local tenant laws work
• Hire good people to manage your properties
• Know when to sell

(20061208)

Editorial Reviews

Review

“This is the success story of an ex-dot-com employee who got tired of working long hours at a great job for 10 years and watching his fellow workers lose their jobs. He accidentally discovered real estate's market-value appreciation, leverage, tax savings, cash flow, reliability and freedom from a 9-to-5 workday. In the process, he became a multimillionaire, and he shows readers how they can have the same result.”

(Bruss, Robert J. San Francisco Chronicle. )

From the Back Cover

Quit your day job!

Make a million in real estate!

It's easier than you think!

A few years ago, Matthew Martinez was a lot like you - he worked hard to make as big a salary as he could. But it wasn't enough. He worked by the clock, and yearned to be his own boss. With a small amount of savings, he acquired his first rental property. Two years later, he was making more from his rentals than he was working 9 to 5, so he quit his day job to oversee his real estate investments. Today, he enjoys a multi-million-dollar collection of income-producing properties--and he's ready to share his money-making strategies so you can begin your own journey to career and financial independence.

Two Years to a Million in Real Estateshows you everything you need to know, including how to

• Invest small amounts early-on while working a full-time job
• Avoid real estate “bubble” risks
• Get others to pay your mortgage for you
• Pick a hot property (and spot others that will become hot)
• Simplify the ins-and-outs of financing
• Negotiate like a pro
• Screen for reliable tenants
• Understand how local tenant laws work
• Hire good people to manage your properties
• Know when to sell

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (May 12, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071471871
• ISBN-13: 978-0071471879
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (104 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,144 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #17 in Books > Business & Investing > Real Estate > Investments

More About the Author

Beacon Hill Property Group, a private real estate investment company that acquires value-add income-producing properties, was established in 1999 by Matthew Martinez.

The company's transaction expertise covers a broad range of disciplines including multifamily, retail, property management, consulting, construction and development. In a principal capacity, Matthew has been successful in a number of real estate ventures.

- He is currently the adviser to several private equity groups that have raised more than $1 billion dollars to acquire distressed multifamily assets
- He has bought and sold numerous real estate projects
- He has skillfully raised private capital to acquire income-producing real estate assets throughout the United States.
I- n 2002 he founded the Landlord and Investor Group (LIG), the largest real estate investment association in New England. With more than 2,500 members, LIG helps investors excel in the real estate industry by educating and sharing best practices and time-proven strategies.
- He is the best selling author of three investing books.
- He is a spokesperson for Intuit's rental property management software and an AOL Money Coach.

Matthew serves on the housing committee for Travelers Aid Family Services, a Boston-based non-profit founded in 1920 to assist the poor and disadvantaged with their housing needs.

He is also a member of the Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership's (MBHP) Board of Directors. MBHP helps individuals and families find and retain affordable housing. MBHP is the state's largest provider of rental voucher assistance, serving the homeless, elderly, disabled, and low- and moderate-income residents of Boston and 29 surrounding communities.

Matthew Martinez founded a scholarship to support single parents who are determined to obtain a college degree so that they may improve their earning capacity and improve their family's long-term economic stability. The scholarship was founded as a partnership between the University of Massachusetts Boston, Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership (MBHP) and Beacon Hill Property Group

Matthew has never wavered in his commitment to supporting his community. He has been involved in many charitable causes and civic organizations over the years.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

64 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Practical Advice From Someone Who's Been There..., June 11, 2006

By 

Benjamin P. Goodman (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: 2 Years to a Million in Real Estate (Paperback)

In spite of the inspirational title this is NOT a get rich quick infomercial style real estate scheme. You feel the author's pain as he describes the tenant who doubled his water bill filling up the neighbor's pool. Then he explains the micro-economics of how that increase in expense effects his property value. As a real estate broker with a good grasp of the market, I found that he does both an excellent job describing property investing fundamentals, but then applying them to specific properties. I highly recommend this book.

49 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars OUTSTANDING book and Here is Why....., January 1, 2007

By 

Brian Slater - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 2 Years to a Million in Real Estate (Paperback)

Like most people considering buying this book, Matt did not start his real estate career with a large sum of money for down payments. He did not receive gift loans from relatives; he was simply the average American with a day job and no huge savings.

His principle is based on leverage and using OPM (other peoples money). To the skeptic and beginners the last sentence might read something like "His principles are based on taking HUGE RISKS" but this is not true. All successful real estate investors use significant leverage. But the key, which he explains is having the knowledge. Risk, is therefore, simply having a lack of knowledge on the subject and Matt is the bridge maker who will close the gap for you.


The great thing about this book is that it is "Fluff Free". Matt does not just give you a basic principle and then follow with zero detail (which is a major criticism of the great Robert Kiyosaki books). Instead, all 182 pages are packed full of "need to know" information. There are even several appendixes after the 182 pages that give you quotes, further suggested readings, and samples of letters/forms you will need in your own real estate business. I took notes the entire time I read this book and ended up with 20 pages in Microsoft Word, this book is the real deal.


One last word. Undoubtedly, like anything in the world there will always be a few skeptics. Scattered throughout all of the positive feedback on Amazon you will see a comment or two of criticism, do not let this scare you. Everyone has heard the old cliché, "misery loves company" so don't fall for into these people's traps. If you take the time to read this book and take action on what you have learned success will be inevitable.

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Useful Information to Reference for Future Real Esate Deals, March 25, 2007

By 

D. Luchansky (Point Barrow, Alaska) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 2 Years to a Million in Real Estate (Paperback)

I think Matthew's book is a good read for the beginning/ intermediate real estate investor. I am 33-years-old and pretty well versed in real estate, having my RE license in CA and having done probably 3-4 personal deals, but the book opened my eyes to some new ideas. For example, Matthew elaborates on a plethora of unique ways to fill a vacancy, how to evaluate in detail potential investment properties, different ways to get financing for down payments, etc. He also lists a ton of other real estate investment books to reference.
I think the main thing I have come to realize from reading his book is that cashflow is king. Building a million dollars in equity really is not the point. Receiving a nice monthly cashflow stream from buying the right properties is what it is about. After I read his book I started evaluating certain investment markets which showed me that you can realistically have probably $50k- $200k to put down and be able to cashflow $1k- $4k a month, which I personally would consider a pretty nice start. And if you're worth a million and own the right cashflowing properties? Well, I'll be writing a book like Matthew at that point!