Real Estate Books

This is a really good estate investing book. Practical advice and loaded with real, verifiable information. For example, how many other real estate investment books mention and then draw insightful conclusions from the Property Owners and Managers Survey conducted by the U.S. Census bureau?

Er, for what it's worth, I'm the author of Quicken for Dummies and QuickBooks for Dummies and a CPA in the Seattle area... so I'm pretty picky about the business and investing books I recommend--especially to clients. I do heartily recommend this one!

In reading several Real Estate books in the last couple of years, I have found that most of them assure you quick money, just by following their advice. Unfortunately, most of these get-rich-quick promises end up being deceptive and misleading.
Finally, I came across a book that sidesteps these fantasies and provides a real view of what it takes to succeed in the Real Estate market. Marc W. Andersen, Ph.D. has done an excellent job in putting together a book, that in my opinion, is a must read for anyone who is serious about investing in Real Estate, whether experienced or new to the field.
The book offers a step by step through the whole process: from selecting a piece property, location, renting, operating expenses, to financing, taxes, and when to sell. It contains very detailed information and plenty of data and tips that will help the novice or the expert, to make the best possible decision when investing in Real Estate. Common questions like: should one buy a condo or a detached single family home? Should one finance 80%, 90% or 100% of the value of the property? How much can I rent it for? What are the tax implications? Should I manage the property myself or have it administered by a third party? When should I sell? Will be answered with professional and clear detail.
I strongly recommend this book to anyone, experienced or not, who wants to increase his/her chances of successfully investing in Real Estate.

Don't believe what the "gurus" tell you! This book is a well-researched, easy-to-follow learning guide on how to make the right decsions when investing in real estate. It is the type of book you will refer to time and time again throughout your investing experiences.

I've been reading quite a few real estate books in the last few months.....I'm a beginner...This has been the best one to date....Clear and to the point...! The book has given me enough confidence to go do my first deal..Cant Wait!

This is an amazing book!! It really offers a financial "road map" to anyone interested in getting started in investing in real estate. It is easy to read and very easy to follow. The author outlines several steps that should be followed in order to be successful in real estate. The book clearly "spells out" how to stay clear of financial "pitfalls" and how to stay on track to buying and selling real estate wisely. I absolutely recommend this book to anyone who is interested in making big money in the world of real estate investing!

Well, I just finished reading the book...It was thorough, succinct, and gave me a clear road map for the coming months as I begin my first steps into real estate investing.

Brooks, Adrian. "Roulette", Suspect Thoughts Press, 2007.

Looking at "Utopia"

Amos Lassen

"Roulette" takes us to a unique Utopia where the populace is made up by some grotesque cherishers who are loveable and some super queer heroes. This is a satirical look at the world and it is outrageous and very funny. It is a look at what happens when the establishment is taken over by outsiders who just happen to be Christian fundamentalists, Republicans and sleazy real estate dealers. They find themselves pitted against the residency of the town that buck them and the story becomes national news. When the inhabitants of the town don't let the bulldozers demolish the buildings, all hell breaks lose and we are treated to wonderful comedy. We watch as the small haven of Roulette moves from shanty town to become the center of a presidential election and we learn something new about the nation of America,
Author Adrian Brooks has a gift for satire and developing characters. I first read Brooks with his "Flights of Angels" his memoir of the years he spent with The Angels of Light theater troupe in San Francisco but that did not prepare me for the biting satire of this book. His cast of characters includes a bald duck, a Marilyn Monroe type sex-pot who is accident prone and an "obsessive-compulsive" fat lady who dresses in yellow as well as gays, artists, nomads and other residents who are way over the top. Not only is this a fun read, it also gives you something to think about and makes you wish for more.

The once abandoned town of Roulette comes back to life with a cast of characters that are at once charming, quirky, humorous and just plain odd. Adrian Brooks populates his story with enough subplots and funny detours that you never know where the action is leading.

All that guesswork ends in a finale worthy of the finest Moliere farce, that is if Moliere was on acid. You won't want this book to end, it's that funny.

This was the most wonderful book I have read in ages. Captured from the first paragraph, i wasn't able to put it down, laughed my head off throughout and i have now recommended this book to anyone who will listen!!!

This book, A Safe Haven? is a must have for anyone who is looking into buying, building or owns a home. It not only defines in a understandale manner different types concerns to be aware of (such as asbestos, radon, lead and underground tanks), but it guides the reader to questions that should be asked to the original owner of the house as well. It definitely informed me about many things that I was not aware of, and would not even think to be concerned about, yet are very critical to know. I read this book before closing on my house, and it made my husband and I forewarned about certain potential situations rather than forearmed with lots of unexpected work and bills!

This unique book blends personal experience with research and case histories to address common concerns about home safety and environmental safety. From radon and asbestos to risk assessments, hazardous waste and poor water, and health risks of community problems, A Safe Haven? provides a general homeowner's guide to assessing hazards.

This book not only brought to my attention the many hidden and common hazards associated with owning a home, but it was written in a clear and concise way for the layperson to understand. With the environmental dangers increasing in our world today, the topic is one we can no longer ignore or depend on others to take responsibility for. The health and safety of our families is always one of our greatest concerns and "A Safe Haven" thankfully points out ways in which we can eliminate or at least reduce the possibility of harm to those we live with and love. By educating yourself for a minimal cost, you can avoid much larger expenses in the long-term. Also a necessity for anyone associated with the house building process.

An extremely competent do-it-yourself vloume on saving your home by avoiding foreclosure and even making a profit. He goes to lengths to explain what to do when foreclosure threatens, how to get a new loan, restructuring your mortgage, your legal rights. Large-sized volume. Porter explains wonders in 162 pages. Also some very, very interesting personal experiences the author has gone through that will have you sitting up in your worries and paying attention. Indispensable!

This is a subject dear to the hearts of many people in the Houston area and Texas as a whole. Although decreasing, foreclosures still are occurring with an alarming frequency in this area. The reader is lead through the sequence of what happens when someone goes through a foreclosure. This starts with the first time you stop making mortgage payments through to the foreclosure sale and beyond; including the legal consequences after it is all over. The book isn't just a simple explanation of how to endure a foreclosure, though. It also offers ways to avoid a foreclosure, such as working with your lender, looking for help from the government, or getting help form the legal system. It details the steps the lender will be taking at the same time to foreclose upon you. To make the book complete, it even has a chapter on how you can buy foreclosed-upon property. This book is worth a read for any homeowner.

Most home owners are unaware of the secrets that lie hidden in the foreclosure process, knowldege that this book claims would allow most anyone facing the loss of their home not only to live rent free but also to avoid foreclosure altogether. Furthermore, whether you own a house, townhouse, farm, or business property, Porter alleges that profit can be made from a foreclosure situation! While it is difficult to know if these methods work, financially endangered persons will want to read this guide. At the very least, they will learn how every home buyer today is at the mercy of the creditor (the loan institution) and how banks illegally "create" money by lending out their credit. Interesting appendixes offer further explication of state foreclosure laws, various federal resources, and amortizaed loans.

Although I have been a Realtor for 27 years, I had many more questions about why "short sales" are so different now than they have been in the past. I couldn't understand why banks would make the decisions they did regarding them, or would appear to sit on offers and not readily respond. Elizabeth Weintraub's fantastic book, "The Short Sale Savior" not only addressed each of my questions - but answered them too! This book is a must read for real estate professionals, as well as home buyers and sellers of short-sale properties too!

Need expert guidance about turning an upside-down mortgage right side up? This is the book for you. Elizabeth is witty, direct and to the point about the many challenges a home-owner (and buyer) may face when exploring the short sale option. Although real estate is serious business, you may find yourself laughing out loud when you least expect it. I know I did. A definite must read...

Elizabeth Weintraub writes with flair and a hint of humor so her book isn't boring. If you're in an area where foreclosures are threatening more and more homeowners, you'll like this book. I have turned down page 119 where Ms Weintraub gives a list of items required to document and ask for a short sale. She admits it takes a long time to get it all worked out but she gives us a way to start and follows us through to the end. I'll have this list handy if I have to do a short sale. She also gives lots of interesting examples of real life short sale cases. I recommend this book for all real estate agents.

I discovered this book while i was staying in Alpine, Texas at the Sul Ross University Library. I remember it being an incomplete edition, perhaps a first edition. This was around May 19 to July 19, 1989 when i was staying/living there. I enjoyed Gunnar Brune's comments about the world situation. --gg

If you are a fan of Texas, a REALLY big fan of Texas (as in a Texas native, or a transplanted Texan that misses home - or a non-Texan by birth that now lives here and loves it) - This book is for rare information lovers, outdoor enthusiasts who love to travel and explore / 'find' places that are little known. My understanding is that this is a 2nd version and compilation with some updates since it's first printing in the 1930's. The first version is almost as impossible to find as hen's teeth, and my feelings are that this will be a highly collected and sought after book within a matter of single digit years from now. Get it while you can - and a cost of about $65 here in November of 2007 is normal for the tome. Published by Texas A&M college.

Hopefully there will be a 2nd book to compliment the reprinted 'Springs of Texas' within a few years - one can only wait in anticipation. It appears that the least amount of information gathered is in the hill country region / central Texas. While this is a big area that is full of springs - the first book (no matter if it's the 1st or 2nd version) tells and shows you up front which counties were surveyed and how well they were surveyed. Around 3/4 of the counties in Texas are completely discussed in detail in regards to springs - however the 'project' is not complete at this time. I don't know if they are working on a 2nd volume currently or not, but I'm anxiously waiting for some kind of information that lets me know one way or the other. Without a doubt this needs to be completed, and it sounds like it's been on dozens of people's 'to do lists from hell'. Please, someone put it on their list so I don't have to - this is one of those things that needs to be immediately done, it's had to wait around 70 years so far and all we have is this first fantastic volume. It's also little known - but this book almost didn't get to be republished because the first version is so VERY rare - the author of the 2nd release goes into this in detail in the explanatory 'forward' of this 600 some-odd paged book.

NOT A BOOK FOR KIDDIES IN REGULAR SCHOOL. THIS IS A COLLEGE LEVEL BOOK (although there are bound to be many high schoolers that are an exception to the rule). Don't expect lots of nice, color photographs - black and white are all I've seen so far.

Tom Price
Garland, TX

This book from the Texas A&M University Press is a second edition of the original version (1981) which has been out of print and very rare for many years. Helen Besse took up the challenge of locating a copy of the book, updating some of the material, and arranging for its reprinting. This book is literally the Bible for information about most of the past and current springs in 183 out of 254 counties in Texas. She is working on completing a Volume 2 which will include many springs in Central Texas which were not included in Volume 1. The book presents the results of many years of extensive research conducted by Gunnar Brune until his passing cut short the completion of all the springs in Texas.
Each spring's location, historical flow rate, elevation, geological and habitat characteristic, as well as interesting historical anecdotes by local citizens about the springs are given. Many excellent maps place the springs in a historical context from the 15th Century to the present. This is the first book one who is interested in learning about springs in Texas should read.

I've read lots of real estate books over the years, but "Stop Foreclosure Now" is one of the best. Plus, you don't have to be in foreclosure to appreciate its contents. For example, I'm a real estate investor, but still found it valuable. The book is divided into five sections. The first section covers promissory notes, mortgages, and deeds of trust. The second section differentiates between judicial and non-judicial foreclosure and describes the procedures for each. The third section describes various strategies homeowners can utilize to stop the foreclosure and save their homes. The fourth section, which was particularly helpful to me. Describes the specific foreclosure procedures in each of the 50 states. It includes a nifty map of each states and that state's website (which you can access for updates on foreclosure laws). The final section contains a glossary of commonly used real estate terms. This book is a valuable new addition to my real estate library, and I highly recommend it for anyone wanting to learn more about foreclosure.

Jim Mills
Manhattan Beach, CA

"With STOP FORECLOSURE NOW, author Lloyd Segal has done a HUGE favor for many of us homeowners who have to face the very real intimidating and frightening process of coping with such financial difficulties. By simplifying and demystifying many of the steps involved, Mr. Segal has given us access to the knowledge and the ways and means necessary to better protect our families and our properties.
It's a very important intermediate step before having to seek and pay for professional help!

Thank-you,

Howard Gordon"

As a principle, I stay far away from self help and you-can-do-it-yourself books, because more often than not, their authors seem to have the secret ambition of turning clueless reader/user into experts on their subject matters. Mr. Segal's book does not supply the reader with needless information on foreclosure, short sales and related matters: it simply provides very straightforward answers to all the fundamental questions the distressed homeowner actually has and to which he/she is seeking concrete answers to get out of a difficult situation. Plain and simple.
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What more, the book is remarkably clearly written, and structured in such a way that the user/reader does not spend a minute agonizing over where to start, what chapters to read, or what information could be relevant given his or her particular circumstances. This book is in fact very results-oriented, and explores right from the start different viable solutions; from there, the reader/user is then guided through his or her solution, or best alternative option very steadfastly by the author. In that regard, I have to admire Mr. Segal's great ability to navigate the reader/user through a complex situation with surprisingly simple solutions, and his ability to put himself in the shoes of a distressed homeowner. Truly amazing!

Now. I came across, and bought this book when was entangled in a seemingly dead end situation: I had tried - rather very unsuccessfully-- to sell my house on which I owed more than the current market value, from 2 different lenders; my real estate agent, and real estate lawyer had both given up on my case; I felt trapped, and I was angered by the situation. When they let me down, I freezed, and was basically waiting for doom to loom on me. " Stop Foreclosure Now. Save your house if you can; save your credit if you can't" did not merely give me hope to find a way out. It actually empowered me overnight to take charge of my situation, by equipping me with the knowledge, tools, and information needed to engage with lenders and people in the real estate community in an intelligible and articulated manner about my case. Indeed, as a read the book, I could see myself evolving from a state of desperation and disempowerment to a state of mind where I could see new opportunities emerging from my obviously desparate situation. In that respect, one of the key lessons of the book, from a homeowner's perspective is Mr' Segal's take that foreclosure is not the end of it all; as a matter of fact, it could actually be the best thing happening to a homeowner seeking a fresh beginning in homeownership.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone, -- distressed homeowner or not -- who wants to engage intelligibly with lenders, or real estate folks on a foreclosure case, and work out a viable solution for herself or himself. Given the current real estate market, this book is simply a gem of wisdom, knowledge and power.

How ironic that the only other Amazon review of this exceptional book, labels it "brilliant, historical research"....

Ironic because the very presence of Mono Lake is long history, and the lake itself is "brilliant", something which most Californians apparently don't comprehend.

And yes, this book itself is brilliant....It may not discuss all the ramifications of water in Callifornia's future, and it doesn't much touch on California's future itself, but it definitely shows us all how we can still fight the forces of "development".

But then, Mono Lake is already "developed"...Keep up the fight!

In this version of the story, it's David Gaines - the graduate student from U. C. Davis. And Goliath is none other then the water company brought to life by William Mulholland and friends. Storm Over Mono has all the makings of a biblical tale, however, it reads much more like a case study for a class in environmental law.

The small, but scrappy, Mono Lake Committee along with California Trout and others used their dogged persistence to protect one of the more unique ecosystems in all North America. John Hart recounts this critical conservation battle in American history with the greatest of precision and detail -- real, high-stakes stuff with a happy ending.

A little background: Mono Lake rests in an arid basin just below the shadow of the Sierra Nevada in Northern California - unfortunately, not quite far enough from the long arm of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Referred to as the "Mono Extension", L.A. Water and Power drained Lee Vining and Rush Creeks. Over decades, this water project diverted critical fresh water flows into Mono Lake - lowering the lake's level and rising it's salinity.

With the lake's ecosystem faltering in the 1970's, a group of "bird freaks" from the University of California at Davis saw the clear signs in their research and sounded the alarm. Members from this research group, including David and Sally Gaines, led the efforts to organize the diverse legal and environmental support needed to defeat a giant like L.A.'s Department of Water and Power. (If you're fortunate enough to fish the lower run of Rush Creek or explore the lake, be sure to tip your hat to the Mono Lake Committee and company.)

One final note: today, Los Angeles County is home to 10 million people. (If L.A. County were a state, it would rank 8th in total population.) David won the battle over Mono Lake, but I'm afraid the water war is far from over in California.

This book was first reviewed on the reviewer's own site: EcoAngler.com - The Nature of Fly Fishing.

I guess I may be a little biased because I was one of the primary sources for the book, but with some very minor issues, it is the most accurate re-telling of a story that should have been turned into a film. If you want to read a GREAT legal story that is also a true story, this is an excellent read. Oh yeah, it also has the obligatory beautiful photographs of Mono lake. Seems that lake doesn't know how to take a bad photograph! :-)

I'm preparing a house I've lived in for 35 years for possible sale in this exceptionally challenging market. My style is to research everything well so I've contacted a number of people who "stage" homes. While I'm extremely disappointed in what I hear about today's buyer compared to the buyers I knew and the buyer I was in 1974, I am prepared to follow advice. Diane's is the most practical and sensible I've heard from anyone. Her book tells you exactly what you need to do. It's so good, I've been recommending it to all my friends who face selling their fabulous large homes in exchange for smaller living quarters. Make this book a part of your research before you take the leap!

This review was sent to me by Bill Golden, a Kansas City Realtor after I gave him "This Sold House" as a professional tool.

'This Sold House' has made a big difference in how I approach a client to
list their home.
As a lifelong carpenter, contractor and a realtor with 12 years experience,
I can look at any home and see only the space. I thought everyone else

could do the same. Not true, staging has become a mantra for me when

discussing listing a home for sale. I plan to give a copy of This Sold House
to each prospective client at the listing appointment.


I listed a nice 1/2 duplex a month ago. The recently widowed home owner askd

me about removing her late husband's many momentos of 30 years as a U. S.
Navy Chief. I liked them and suggested they stay. Today, after reading the
book I would recommend that she remove 90% of them.


It was a real eye-opener to me that so many buyers look at the photos

on-line to decide which houses to schedule viewings. I do my own photographs
for listing and am not a photographer. I have already contacted a former
client who is a photographer to do all my listing photos.

A life-long reader, I enjoyed reading this book. Thank you to Diane Keyes
for writing it. It's a great tool for Realtors*.

Bill Golden
Kansas City, KS

This Sold House by Diane Keyes is a homeowner's dream guide for preparing their house to sell. She has taken the mystery out of "staging your home to sell in today's market." In this instructive manual, she guides you through each room and explains how you can create bigger, brighter and warmer spaces for the prospective homebuyers to imagine themselves there.

Keyes provides anecdotal evidence of how simply paring away personal decorations, rearranging furniture, or adding a new color palette, can create a beautiful contemporary look. Not only do the homeowners see their living space through the eyes of a potential homebuyer, but also they can save a great deal of money and heartache. Although the art of staging was first promoted in the late `70s, Diane quickly establishes in This Sold House that she has a natural gift for making suggestions that create a "visual impact," which homeowners and real estate agents have relied on for the past 20-plus years.

While Keyes addresses the most obvious things to do that will result in a more effective selling campaign, she also speaks to the emotional issues that can tangle up an owner in their decision to sell-or not to sell their house. While these issues can slow down the selling process, she offers a look at how the seller may unintentionally sabotage the sale of their house.

Keyes offers a compassionate and empathic perspective to sellers, assuring them that the emotional transition to their new house is a part of the adventure.

This Sold House is definitely a keeper for my library. I am not planning to sell my house right now but I will definitely use the list of Quick Tips to start my house makeover.

Armchair Interviews says: Even if you aren't selling right now, this book gives you some excellent ideas for making your home better.