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

~ Jay DeCima (Author) "Most people are too busy earning a living to make any serious money..." (more)
Key Phrases: property analysis form, profit bulbs, carryback notes, Yellow Court, First Main Street, Snob Hill (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

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.

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.

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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 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #236,214 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 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 (REAL NAME)

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 61 people found the following review helpful:

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

By A Customer

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!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lots of good content, June 12, 2005

By	Jeffrey C. Vanabbema "Jeff VanAbbema" (Grand Rapids, MI USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The negative reviews on this book are way off. I've read many real estate investing books and most of them talk about all the wonderful deals they've made and how you can do it to... but never give you DETAILS. Jay gives lot of good information and shows you how to cover your ass so you don't make the mistakes that a lot of R.E. investors make (overpaying, over-estimating income, under-estimating expenses, believing what the sellers say about the income potential.) I'm just as glad that these reviewers don't follow his advice; more opportunities for those of us that heed it!