Rental Houses for the Successful Small Investor [Paperback]

Suzanne P. Thomas (Author), P. Suzanne Thomas (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 14, 1999

A guidebook for the small investor who wants to invest in single family rental houses. Chapters guide the reader through setting meaningful and realistic goals, locating money for down payments, selecting good properties to buy, getting a loan without doing "creative financing" gyrations, managing tenants with a minimum of time, writing leases and getting good landlord insurance, and eventually doing a tax deferred exchange. Written clearly with the beginner in mind, but including the information an experienced investor needs to learn.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Suzanne Thomas was both intrigued and dismayed by the real estate investing books she read as a young adult. Owning real estate seemed like a good idea, but did she want to manage apartment houses with dozens of tenants? How many desperate "don't wanter" sellers were out there? They seemed to be a lot harder to find than the real estate gurus said they were.

Ms. Thomas eventually figured out that all she needed to become financially independent were five paid-off single family houses. As she acquired her handful of houses she began to teach her methods to adult education classes. Her handouts multiplied until she realized it was time to write the book she couldn't find for her students.

Currently Ms. Thomas owns rental real estate worth one million dollars. She has appeared across the country on radio and cable TV shows. She continues to lecture through adult education programs, bookstore appearances, and Realtor conventions.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Gemstone House Pub; 1 edition (January 14, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966469119
• ISBN-13: 978-0966469110
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (102 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #160,104 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

126 of 126 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A sensible approach to real estate investing, March 13, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Rental Houses for the Successful Small Investor (Paperback)

I have read many books on R.E. investing, many say the same thing and some make wild promises. Suzanne has put together a book that is both different than others and at the same time, does not promise that you will get rich overnight.

Suzanne covers many of the pitfalls associated with Real Estate Investing as well and I like that. Too many others make it appear as though R.E. Investing is a slam dunk, invest, rent your property and wait for the checks to come rolling in. Not so.

Overall a good book by Suzanne. Great for novices and experienced alike.

92 of 92 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It's working for me., June 12, 2004

By 

Kathy Slowinsky - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rental Houses for the Successful Small Investor (Paperback)

Ignore those 1 star reviews, Suzanne's advice is right on and really works. Ihighly recommend this book. Follow Suzanne's advice and go for it.

Thank you Ssuzanne

167 of 172 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Very, very basic stuff here. There are better books, January 1, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Rental Houses for the Successful Small Investor (Paperback)

The real estate and tax information is so very basic. Mark Haroldson covered this in more detail over 26 years ago in his classic; "Wake Up The Financial Genius Within You."Suzanne, nice effort, But way too basic.