Churches, Jails, and Gold Mines: Mega-Deals from a Real Estate Maverick [ILLUSTRATED] (Hardcover)

~ Steven Good (Author), Donald Trump (Afterword) "Our auction company is to the real estate business what Sotheby's or Christie's is to the fine art and collectibles business..." (more)
Key Phrases: Sheldon Good, New York, Canyon Resources (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"(Real estate auctions) are smart business...Now in Good's new book, the author shows how it's done..." -- New England Real Estate Journal, October 17-23

"...an inside view of deal-making...(Good) is a premier problem-solver in real estate..." -- Chicago Sun-Times, August 20, 2003

"...his forthcoming book offers readers a behind-the-scenes look at how to use auctions...an entertaining narrative" -- Inman News, August 15, 2003

"...relevant for any business person... well-written, easy-to-read...compelling... a great read." -- The Business Ledger, Nick Dargisic

"Excellent...his experiences are interesting and instructive...more fun to read than most real estate books." -- Real Estate Investor's Monthly, December 2003

"Good explains it all in his new book...fortunately for readers, Good has plenty of stories." -- Metro Chicago Real Estate Magazine, December 2003

"Good's deal-making and step-by-step guide shows how deals are strategically made. Use it to rethink your own planning strategies..." -- Food Industry News, March 2004, Review by Mark Braun

"intriguing story...an up-close tour behind the scenes into the world of high-stakes, exclusive real estate transactions..." -- The Mann Report, October 2003

"… packed with information, [this book] is an enjoyable read because of the interesting stories and informal, witty writing tone." -- Auction World, May 15, 2004

Good is happy to be leading a parade....Good has written a best-selling book...dealing with the auction business.... -- GlobeSt.com, April 26, 2004

Product Description

Sheldon Good & Company is to the real estate business what Sotheby’s and Christie’s are to the fine art and collectibles businesses. Since 1965, Sheldon Good has sold over 40,000 properties from coast to coast and throughout Canada and the Caribbean. "Today, we handle every kind of real estate that can be auctioned," says Steven Good, CEO and chairman. The company manages over 70 different classes of real estate, including marinas, exotic game farms, freezer cooler buildings, fishing lodges, bowling alleys, libraries, ranches, private islands, ski resorts, mountains, apartment buildings, police stations, churches, airports, nightclubs, and office buildings.

How exactly does one go about selling such properties? Widely interviewed as an established authority in the field of high-level real estate auctions, Steven Good captures the rarefied atmosphere of these deals with the wit and wisdom of a true real estate maverick. With contributions from other industry leaders and key players involved in each deal, readers will glean the complete, behind-the-scenes story for the first time.

Chapter highlights and contributors include:
• Glamorous life included: art deco hotels, South Beach, Miami; Alan Kravets, president, Sheldon Good & Co.
• Own a gold mine: mining rights in Montana; Robert Hatcher, Hatcher & Associates and Alan Joscelyn, attorney, Gough, Shanahan, Johnson & Waterman
• The man behind the curtain: Trump Plaza of the Palm Beaches
• Nothing but net: the former Michael Jordan’s Restaurant; Mark Hale, senior vice president, Hinsdale Bank & Trust Co.
• "Gently used" churches: Rev. Frederick Aigner, president, Lutheran Social Services of Illinois
• The jailhouse rocked: Porter County, Indiana, jail; Dave Burrus, president, Porter County Board of Commissioners
• School yard for sale: Evanston School District Headquarters; Hardy Murphy, Ph.D., superintendent
• The world is our stage: creating the first worldwide real estate auction; Terrence McDermott, CEO and executive vice president, National Association of Realtors®

Churches, Jails, and Gold Mines is an intriguing business narrative about real estate deals at the highest level.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Kaplan Business; illustrated edition edition (November 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0793177480
• ISBN-13: 978-0793177486
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #208,598 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Deals with Good Guys, May 19, 2004

By	Richard P. Beem (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

In April 2004, I met Steven Good and heard him speak about his business and his book. One of his pithy thoughts, which I've repeated, is that "you can't do a good deal with a bad guy." In his book, he gives real examples of relationships and creative deals. As a patent attorney, I work with intellectual property more than real property and I find that Good's book is as valuable for good ideas as it is for facts about buildings and land.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gold mine of real estate marketing experience, April 20, 2004

By	Jeff Burdick (Chicago, USA) - See all my reviews

Steven Good's book reads with the style and substance of the books by Donald Trump. Mr. Good's company is also every bit as successful in its arena as Trump is in his -- and Mr. Good shares the details of his most interesting and successful auctions to date. The book also underscores the importance of a disciplined organization, diligent project research, and the benefits of wisely executed marketing campaigns. This is a rewarding book for anyone interested in the real estate industry, marketing techniques, and good business practices.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring - To the Point, April 6, 2004

By	Richard M. Shay (Highland Park, IL United States) - See all my reviews

Whether your area of interest is real estate or not, Mr. Good's stories will keep you riveted. I am an entrepreneur with my own business not in the real estate world. I found countless similarities from which I could gleen nuggets of advice which inspired me.

I was fascinated by the chapter about auctioning the Michael Jordan restaurant building. The months of effort invested, all the intricacies executed and the actual sale is over in minutes. Wow.

Good reading.