Buy Low, Rent Smart, Sell High [Paperback]

Scott Frank (Author), Andy Heller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2003

Facing a volatile stock market, many people have turned to real estate as a way to invest their hard-earned money. While many investors opt to buy property and then sell it quickly, other investors choose to hold onto their property for a longer period of time to realize a greater return on their investment. Real estate experts Scott Frank and Andy Heller have developed a proven and diversified program for real estate investing that incorporates both approaches and enables investors to take control of their financial futures and build wealth over time.

Their new book, Buy Low, Rent Smart, Sell High: Real Estate Investing for the Long Run outlines a win-win-win program, one where average people can reap significant financial rewards by investing in real estate.

* Win One: Buying Low - The investors first win occurs by purchasing real estate at a 10-20 percent discount by seeking out motivated buyers and avoiding paying agent commissions. The book reveals the secret to buying foreclosed homes with clean titles from banks and mortgage companies.

* Win Two: Renting Smart - The property is rented through a lease/purchase agreement. Not only does the investor get a down payment from the lease/purchasee, but he or she also receives monthly rent that usually exceeds the monthly mortgage payment. Also, the lease/purchasee takes on the maintenance and repair responsibilities and tends to be a better tenant in return for their special lease/purchase terms. In addition, as the owner of the property, the investor is able to receive tax write-offs.

* Win Three: Selling High - The final win results when the lease/purchasee exercises his or her right to purchase the property. The owner has realized the benefits of owning the property and has sold it to the lease/purchasee without agent commissions. If the lease/purchasee decides not to exercise his or right, the investor still wins because he or she can either extend the lease purchase agreement and increase the purchase price (based on property appreciation) or enter into another lease/purchase agreement with a new tenant and begin the cycle of wins all over.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Listed as one of 11 helpful resources for real estate investing by Fortune magazine.

(Fortune )

About the Author

Scott Frank is an executive in a Fortune 100 company and has been "buying, renting, and selling" residential real estate on a part-time basis for more than 20 years. Together Scott and Andy have bought, rented and sold more than $10 million in residential real estate. Scott is married with four children and resides in Atlanta, GA. Andy Heller is an executive with an international transportation and logistics firm and has been "buying, renting, and selling" real estate on a part-time basis for over 13 years. Together Scott and Andy have bought, rented and sold more than $10 million in residential real estate. Andy presently maintains residences in Atlanta, GA and San Francisco, CA.

Product Details

• Paperback: 244 pages
• Publisher: Kaplan Publishing; Original edition (October 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0793177561
• ISBN-13: 978-0793177561
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #529,466 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

115 of 122 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Decent, but has the typical flaw..., April 6, 2004

By 

J. Daily (Fort Worth, Tx United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Buy Low, Rent Smart, Sell High (Paperback)

in books of this type. These guys supposedly based their business around REO properties. Usually buying from the bank after the foreclosure process for 25% less than market value. They must live in an area with absolutely NO competition. Where I live everybody and their dog is after these types of properties, thus it is impossible to buy these houses for this type of discount. If you can get one it will be a DOG and you had better be ready to pour some money in it to get it sellable.

Another beef is with their numbers. They assume at one point purchasing a house with a mortgage for $67500 say that your PITI(principal, interest, taxes and insurance) will be $500. They then say you can rent this type of house for $1000. Not in my neck of the woods. Be sure to check your local numbers for insurance and taxes and rental rates.

That said, I do like their Rent-to-Own sales plan and the premise that someone renting-to own will take better care of the property than a transient renter would. I also like their breakdown of the six profits centers they look for in each property.

If you are looking for a way to get started in real estate I recommend their plan once you have purchased the property, I just wouldnt limit yourself to just trying to fight for REO houses. There are many opportunities for buying houses for less than market price, just do your homework and don't limit yourself.

42 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Strategy for Real Estate Investing, August 18, 2004

By 

M. Bernstein (Knoxville, Tennessee) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Buy Low, Rent Smart, Sell High (Paperback)

This was just the book I was looking to find. I've been interested in learning more about real estate investing for some time, but hadn't found the right vehicle to teach me the nuances from an investment perspective (I've purchased homes for myself several times).

This book has just the right tone and is written at just the right level-not too basic, but not too intense. Their approach seems very sound and the authors walk you through each step of their multi-step approach to investing easily. Smartly, they teach you to remove the emotion from the buy sell/decision (unlike when you buy your own home).

The authors' unique strategy seems to be the multiple profit sources from their rent to purchase model. They identify 6 profit sources in their approach that should give a first time investor more protection than the more traditional approach of hoping to buy low and sell high. They take market timing out of the equation. In addition this strategy provides for security should economic or geographic factors affect one or two of the profit sources.

The book's approach seems "doable" for the part time investor which also makes the book of great value. It does not appear that one needs to be a rocket scientist, or give up their day job, to put the brilliance of this book to work.

It's an easy and quick read too, if you are like me, and fear buying treatises that you would never get through. I highly recommend this book.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars proven technique that works for me !, October 13, 2003

By 

hans van der kolk (PALMETTO, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Buy Low, Rent Smart, Sell High (Paperback)

I have sucesfully applied the lease/purchase option during the last 6 years on 5 houses. One of the authors ( Andy Heller)showed this technique in the mid 90's to me and it really works for me
! The atraction lies in the fact that you make money with a minimum of headaches and still it is a win/win/win situation. I have 4 happy families that were finally able to obtain their own house. I made good money on these propetries and the neighbours of these families are still greatfull for fixing the eysores in the street.
If you want to make decent money without taking advantage of people and still enjoy a stress-less realestate live in doing so, this technique is wonderfull and makes the book a must.
I did it partime and so can you ! Thank you Andy and Scott !

Hans van der Kolk
Palmetto, Florida