How to Buy Land Cheap: 5th Edition [Paperback]

Edward Preston (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 127 pages
• Publisher: Breakout Productions; 5th Update edition (October 25, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966693272
• ISBN-13: 978-0966693270
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,448,105 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

63 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Informative, Easy to Read, But Too Brief, November 18, 1999

By 

Real Estate Investor (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Buy Land Cheap: 5th Edition (Paperback)

With only 124 pages not counting the glossary and several lists and white space, this is one of the easiest books to read. There is good information, but the depth applied to each subject is not enough. The chapter on Canadian land was different and not commonly written about, especially in the states. The author whets your appetite and leaves your wanting more. And that was my slight disappointment with "How to Buy Land Cheap". I have seen land bought for $1 and a house bought for $50 (including the land), so I know that what Mr. Preston write of is not only possible but true. Every word is believable and there is no fluff, boasting or exaggeration in this book. The author is not blowing his own horn or trying to sell other products. Although refreshing and insightful, this book is a primer and geared for the beginner. And since the 50 states have 50 different laws and rules, some of the information may not be the case in some states. I liked the book and the price is reasonable but I just felt that the book was too short. More advanced readers will find the lack of depth boring and superficial. This Fifth Edition text has obviously been updated and the author is correct in stating that things change and bargain real estate purchase methods change. Just as homesteading is no longer a viable option so has the RTC (Resolution Trust Corp.) gone away. The suggestion of using the United National catalog is one that I had used myself as a source of regional information at a cheap cost. I've said it before, but buying land sight unseen in the era of toxic waste dumps, wetlands, under ground storage tanks, and all the other natural and man made diasters is foolhardy. Even a trash pile on a farm has been known to contain empty containers of weed killer or insecticide that are toxic. The author is correct in stressing that you do your research. I recommend this book but not only to beginners and with the caveat that it doesn't cover the topics to the depths that I would have liked. This book started as a phamphlet, today it is either a long phamphlet or a short book. I applaud the authors reference publication lists as so many authors don't share their sources. Mr. Preston write in a down to earth style, easily understood giving the reader the feeling that he knows his subject and has done it himself. His title is excellent and the good book could have been excellent with more details, more depth, and more stories of sucess.

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Techniques that work, period., August 28, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: How to Buy Land Cheap: 5th Edition (Paperback)

I have been a tax foreclosed property investor for just over two years now and wish I would have found this book earlier!

All of the techniques that I use to find cheap land, and even some that I have never thought of before, are all in this book. Residentially zoned building lots for between $5.00 and $100.00 are available to anyone willing to use the techniques spelled out in this informative book. Large acreage can also be acquired cheaply and with relative ease.

This book is actually more of a manual on acquiring all types of cheap land, listing each technique individually and then tying in the overall ideas about acquiring county and state owned property very neatly in the end.

If you are looking to make some money on the side buying, selling or trading this niche type of investment property, or if you are just looking for a place to go camping each you that you can call you own, this is the book for you!

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gets right to the point of buying cheap land., April 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: How to Buy Land Cheap: 5th Edition (Paperback)

I liked this book because it got "right to the point". No hype, but just facts. There we're no claims that you were going to get a million dollar lot of land for $100. It told you what to expect. I've read this type of information elsewhere, but never comprised in one text. The author presented several routes along with addresses to find and buy cheap land throughout the U.S. and Canada, although Canadian land is more difficult to purchase (as the book claims). Very easy reading, and extremely affordable book.