Real Estate Investing for Dummies (Paperback)

by Eric Tyson (Author), Robert S. Griswold (Author) "Welcome to Real Estate Investing For Dummies!..." (more)
Key Phrases: property inspections, net operating income, real estate fortune, Understanding Real Estate, Get the Money, Crunching the Numbers (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
"This is simply the best book on the topic.”
—Randall Bell, Author, Home Owner's Manual

"Tyson and Griswold have truly opened the world of real estate investing to all by tackling often complex issues in this easy to understand and use book. I can't think of a better way to get smart about building wealth through rental properties than to read their excellent Real Estate Investing For Dummies!"
—Vern Hoven, CPA

Non-prime time TV is cluttered with infomercials about how you can buy non-prime real estate for next to nothing and get rich quick. Common sense should tell you that’s an exaggeration. (If common sense doesn’t tell you, bankers will.) Nevertheless, it is possible to get rich gradually by investing in real estate. Long term, you can expect to realize an annual return of 8 to 10% a year.

Real Estate Investing for Dummies gives you the keys to successful real estate investment, whether it’s in single family homes and condos, apartments, vacation homes, commercial properties (office, industrial, and retail), raw land, or REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts). With guidance from authors Eric Tyson, MBA, a financial counselor, and Robert S. Griswold, a veteran real estate investor, you’ll discover how to:

• Find and buy the best properties at a fair price
• Capitalize on opportunities such as foreclosures, no money down deals, auctions, tax sales, and more
• Secure financing and good mortgage terms
• Value, evaluate, and negotiate everything to do with real estate
• Work with agents and other professionals
• Project income potential and cash flow
• Handle contracts, inspections, and closings

Whether you’re interested in a fixer supper for rental, premier office space you can lease, or a vacation home you can enjoy and rent, when you become a buyer, you also become a landlord. That means you can hear from tenants any time, night or day. It means you may not hear from them when the rent is due. Real Estate Investing for Dummies also helps you:

• Find and keep good tenants
• Negotiate lease agreements
• Insure and maintain your property
• Keep good records for tax and accounting purposes

Remember, with any deal, you have to know when to hold them and know when to fold them. So Real Estate Investing for Dummies gives you guidelines on when and how to sell and how to reinvest to build wealth. It also lists 10 real estate investments you shouldn’t touch with a 10-foot pole. Especially if you’re tempted by those late-night infomercials, that warning could save you a fortune!

From the Back Cover
Packed with tips on buying, financing, and improving properties

With up-to-date information on all your mortgage options.
From homes and apartment buildings to commercial and industrial properties, this friendly guide covers a wealth of real estate investments and financing options. With practical tools and expert advice, top real estate authors Eric Tyson and Robert Griswold help you maximize your investments - and watch your profits grow.

Praise for Real Estate Investing For Dummies.
"This is simply the best book on the topic."
--Randall Bell, Author, Home Owner's Manual

"Tyson and Griswold have truly opened the world of real estate investing to all by tackling often complex issues in this easy to understand and use book. I can't think of a better way to get smart about building wealth through rental properties than to read their excellent Real Estate Investing For Dummies!"
--Vern Hoven, CPA.

Discover how to:

• Make real estate a part of you long-term investment plan
• Pick the best properties for profit and your situation
• Get the best deals on financing
• Master the art of property valuation
• Manage your risk and insure your properties

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Product Details

• Paperback: 358 pages
• Publisher: Wiley Publishing, Inc.; 1 edition (December 15, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764525654
• ISBN-13: 978-0764525650
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #29,883 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

117 of 123 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A New Standard For Other Authors To Follow., March 16, 2005

By	Guy M. Blasi (Highlands Ranch, CO USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Upon the completion of reading this book, I realize that the authors have set a new and comprehensive standard for real estate investors. Investment in Real Estate is an interesting and often frustrating process. Don't let the title fool you, this is a SERIOUS book for serious real investors whether novice or veteran.

The authors obviously know their subject, which is highly diverse. You are guided around pitfalls, and problems. It's almost like you have a wise sage holding your hand because the authors have "been there and done that". I appreciated their candor and honesty throughout the book, but in particular their take on the "information guru's" who sell their get-rich-quick real estate tapes and CD's on the unsuspecting public.

All you other real estate authors take note. You have a new standard to shoot for. Five stars, easy.

76 of 81 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just what the doctor ordered, February 3, 2005

By	Justin Smith - See all my reviews

I have done some investing on my own but wanted to learn more about real estate. This book is awesome. It covers the basics and more complicated real estate investments. I now know what types of real estate I am going to pursue and how to analyze them. I read the entire book but I am sure I will keep coming back to it for the worksheets and checklists.

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wish I had seen it first, September 14, 2006

By	NativeCJ (CA) - See all my reviews

I am only mid-way through this book but it has already answered so many of my questions (that another book did not)! I am new to real estate investing but not new to real estate. This book is layed out (like the rest of the Dummies books) in a very easy to follow format. It points out items to definitely remember when considering transactions and also points out warnings.

Also, since they have no agenda other than to help you understand the process, they did not try to sell you anything (i.e.; get rich quick schemes). This Dummies book gives it to you straight -- Why you should invest in real estate; How real estate investments stack up against other types of investments, such as stocks, etc.; The benefits of building your wealth by staying in for the long term; What cash flow to expect in the short term, including the possibility of negative cash flow.