Investing in Fixer-Uppers : A Complete Guide to Buying Low, Fixing Smart, Adding Value, and Selling (or Renting) High [Paperback]

Jay DeCima (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 18, 2003

Expert money-making advice from the nation's leading fixer-upper guru

"Excellent book on the fixer strategy."--John T. Reed, bestselling real estate author

"Filled with practical examples of how to profit from rundown fixer-upper properties."--Robert J. Bruss, syndicated real estate columnist

Nobody wants to buy an ugly, decrepit, rundown house--which is exactly why they provide real estate investors with the best bargains! In Investing in Fixer-Uppers, nationally known real estate guru Jay DeCima reveals how investors can add thousands of dollars to the value of an "ugly" house. He discusses how to substitute personal skills for traditional down payments, strategies to profit without waiting for appreciation, and dozens of other value-adding tips.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

How to get rich fast by making ugly houses beautiful!

Want to find great opportunities and make big bucks in the hottest business there is? Now you can take advantage the nation's huge and growing demand for quality housing and get rich doing it! Investing in Fixer-Uppers helps you develop the knowledge and expertise you need to buy run-down properties at bargain rates, make just the right renovations, and sell or rent for enormous profits!

Nationally recognized real estate guru "Fixer Jay" DeCima shows you how to add tens, even hundreds of thousand of dollars to the value of a dilapidated building while risking little or none of your own money. You'll discover how to substitute personal skills for traditional down payments, learn strategies for turning a profit without waiting for appreciation, and find dozens of other money-making tips, including how to:

• Find the right properties and seek out a motivated seller
• Work with the right real estate agents who multiply your profits
• Learn what's possible to fix and what to leave alone
• Get free government fix-up money and low interest housing loans
• Double the property value and increase the income 50% within 18 months
• Create equity fast with minimal cash upfront
• Bring in an investor to help your cash flow
• Leverage short-term profits into a lifetime of wealth
• Learn what kind of fix-up work pays you the most money
• Convert people problems into big paydays
• Buy properties not listed for sale
• How much to pay for every property you buy
• Profit with a co-investor
• Earn 50% of the profits for a 10% investment

Rule #1 for profiting in real estate is ACT NOW! Start by reading Investing in Fixer-Uppers, and put yourself on the road to financial independence.

About the Author

Jay P. DeCima, known in the real estate industry as "Fixer Jay," owns more than 200 previously run-down homes, hosts seminars for fixer-upper investors around the United States, and publishes a monthly newsletter, Trade Secrets, for do-it-yourself real estate investors and career changers.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (February 18, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071414339
• ISBN-13: 978-0071414333
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #83,383 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #41 in Books > Business & Investing > Real Estate > Buying & Selling Homes
  • #82 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > How-to & Home Improvements > Remodeling & Renovation
  • #84 in Books > Business & Investing > Real Estate > Investments

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I really..., March 27, 2004

By 

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

This review is from: Investing in Fixer-Uppers : A Complete Guide to Buying Low, Fixing Smart, Adding Value, and Selling (or Renting) High (Paperback)

dont see the other reviewers beef with this book. Nowhere on the cover does the book mention anything about flipping. I also wonder if they bothered to read it. It clearly does not advocate becoming a "slum lord". It recommends against investing in these types of properties. It does recommend investing in older neighborhoods, in fact on pg. 97 it breaks down the 5 general types of areas or neighborhoods in most towns or cities and tells you exactly where to invest.
As far as flipping, if you follow Jay's advice instead of renting you could then sell. The book is all about how to find these types of properties and how to purchase them for the right price( As most real estate investors know, the profit is made in the purchase.)

Starting on pg. 56 he offers 4 ways to find such properties.

On pg. 73 he tells you step by step what to do when you find such a property.

On pg. 86 how to find the right real estate agent to help you.

It covers negotiating, fix-up strageties, where the profit centers to each deal are, financing and refinancing,finding partners, other avenues for investment monies and landlording skills towards the END of the book.

I really thought this a practical book full of good advice for the beginner.

53 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Perhaps "RENT" should be highlighted............, July 5, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Investing in Fixer-Uppers : A Complete Guide to Buying Low, Fixing Smart, Adding Value, and Selling (or Renting) High (Paperback)

This book contains alot of good information, however the title is deceiving. The main topic of the book is "how to obtain and then rent multiple unit structures for monthly cash flow". Jay barely touches on rehabbing for quick sale as the title might suggest. Also, many of "Fixer Jay's" points are repaeted throughout the book, almost for the sake of quantity of content......A decent book for the individual thinking of owning rentals, but for rehab flipping, FORGET IT!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good Book...Deceptive Title, October 3, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Investing in Fixer-Uppers : A Complete Guide to Buying Low, Fixing Smart, Adding Value, and Selling (or Renting) High (Paperback)

I agree with some of the other reviews in that this book does not say much about rehabs for resale. Also, it says very little about the actual rehab process. From looking at the cover on would think there was greater emphasis selling the property, but this is not the case. Jay DeCima actually discourages you from selling. However, most real estate books are not very good, and I thought this one was better than most. It seemed to take a more realistic approach to things, it uses numbers and check lists (rather than generalities). This book is not great, but is is a good book if someone is interested in rental property.

The best real estate book I have read is, "Investing in Real Estate, 4th Ed., Andrew McLean & Gary W. Eldered, PhD."