Customer Reviews

Spark: Lending Your Way to Real Estate Millions

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

It has been decades since I've read anything so vacuous. It is a sales brochure trying to convince you to invest in their mutual funds. The authors started their careers in marketing/sales and this book cries for an editor to cut the sales schlok out. It seems that, in authors' minds, they thought if they'd replace the word "idea" with "spark", and "hard-money loan" with "orchestra loan", that it would be a big enough gimmick to sell a lot of books. Please help prove them wrong.

This book bounces among three styles of writing:

1. Kindergarten statements about real estate loans (lenders are knowledgeable in their local real estate arena; now, as in the future, loans will spark new office and resudential spaces).

2. Side-bar filler with irrelevant facts (it took 467 concrete trucks to form the base of Seattle's Space Needle; the vagaries of war lead to periodic bursts of rebuilding projects).

3. Ridiculous editorials (revolution brings about change, usually for the better; publications like Barron's and the WSJ provide a wealth of general information).

Here is the actual substance of the book that I paid for and waded through all the sales nonsense for: "Steps to Success: This industry requires a phenomenal amount of research and diligence, not to mention real estate expertise. If you feel you have those qualities and talents, then by all means go for it." Yes, that's all of it. The authors teach nothing about how to become a hard-money lender in this book, nor do they offer any place to educate yourself further. Although the authors have impressive resumes, after reading their book, I no longer believe their claims of success.

I highly recommend you do not purchase this book. But, if you insist on buying it, don't complain that you weren't warned.

I had to re-read the other reviews of this book to see if I read the same book that they gave five stars . The book is too short, doesn't give out any information that you couldn't find in the first chapter of any decent real estate primer, and the over-all impression is that it is the result of a short interview with the authors who appear based on their credits to be qualified to give meaningful insights but in fact don't reveal anything. As a real estate professional and a person who has a number of real estate books in his library this book belongs in the round file at the end of my book shelf. I am glad I only wasted twelve dollars.

Apparently they have coined a new term "orchestra funding" and are attempting to force it into the real estate lexicon. An exceptional disappointment in every sense of the word.

I've read hundreds of business books over the years and this is probably in my top 3 worst books of all time. I consider myself a fairly sophisticated real estate investor and this book gave me absolutely nothing.

Not worth anyones' time to read. Take a pass on this book

For years, I have purchased investing book after investing book, looking for the one book that is not just hype and that can help me achieve my dream of being a millionaire. This is that book! With their clear and confident writing style, authors Moskowitz and Napoliello explain the investing secrets that have actually worked for them, and I think could work for me too. I plan to jump on the Orchestra funding bandwagon before it is too late. Is that a wheelbarrow full of money I see approaching me?

This book was written in a way I, as a lay-man, could understand.
There seems to be a whole unexploited market here for making money. Easy to read, easy to understand, all I needed was a phone number to call to start investing in "Orchestra" level projects. Good infomation, very understandable. Great book for someone looking for non-conventional ways to invest.

Terence Duffy

Yes, it's brief. Yes, it's simple. Isn't that what you want? Personally, I don't value good information by the pound.
This "little book" literally pulled my eyelids open to some exciting new opportunities, some that I've already taken advantage of.
That's all it's it meant to do.
If you're like "Reader (Colorado)" and you want to be spoon fed volumes of existing and outdated information about every possible facet of every possible outcome of every investment, then this isn't your book.
If, on the other hand, you want to be way ahead of the curve and are open to very fresh and exiting new ideas and ways to really grow your money, then Spark is for you.
My recommendation is that you give yourself a big gift from a little package. This book is a real idea stimulator, but only if you're a creative thinker and are open to new ideas and...you aren't Anonymous in Colorado.

R. Woodcox
Author

I am a hard-working mother who strives to make the right decisions with my investments. Sometimes, the choices are overwhelming. Owning a home is no longer enough, and I have been looking for guidance in the real estate market.

This book truly enlightened my decision making strategy. The authors brilliantly contradict old stereo-types, and notions of realestate as only long term, huge capital investments; and demonstrate the "orchestration" of the real estate market as highly profitable, initial, short-term investment, and achievable in small capital contributions.

The authors also beautifully demonstrate that diversifying into the newly described type of real estate fund, (managed by experts), will benefit investors, developers, and everyone in our societies today, making this a win-win for all.

There is no better source for investment in this area of the market than this book. Moskowitz opens a huge door for investors who are serious about making a return on their money. In fact, he has single-handedly leveled the playing field for both small and medium-sized investors. The decision for investment in these funds is a no-brainer.