Estate Planning Books

The information provided in this book is extremely dated and unrealistic. I live in California and I do understand the real estate prices are much higher on average than most parts of the country. However, he uses an example of an average 3BR, 2BA home selling for between $10,000 and $15,000 and continues to use these numbers throughout his book. Somebody tell me where these homes exist? Downtown Baghdad? He gives an example of how to determine the value of a rental income property. He says to take the monthly rental amount and multiply it by 100 to determine the value of the property. His example was $150 monthly rent x 100 = house value of $15,000. I own a rental that rents for $1500. If I used his example $1500 x 100 = $150,000 right? Wrong!!! This same property will sell today for $375,000, which means a buyer's tenants would have to pay $3,750 per month. Gee, do these numbers ad up? You figure!

Other reviewers have stated that this book is dated and it is but that misses the fact that the basic premise of the book is still valid. With the way prices are going up in some places. you'd need a new edition every year to keep current. Look past that and grasp the fact that it's possible to become financially independent by owning as few as three rental houses and the one you live in.

This is a very unique book in the field of real estate investing that will expose you to thinking outside the box. The goal of all investing should be to achieve financial independence, not owning a bunch of houses.

There are areas of the country where this plan won't work as well as others because rents don't begin to cover the operating expenses and mortgage unless you go in with a huge down payment. But, even though those who live in the hyper-markets of San Diego, Boston or DC won't believe it, there are still very nice areas of the country where you can buy houses all day for less than $100,000. And in those markets, this plan will work.

David Grzesiek has produced in this title, a very detailed, and specific introduction to making money in the real estate business. Avoiding the hyperbole, and excessive claims of other titles in this field, he details methods, and techniques for making profit in single family homes. These are backed up with charts and statistics. The illustrations he uses are not current in the values represented, but he is more interested in conveying understanding of principles, which translate into whatever figures you require with little effort.
Not a make money overnight book, nor a title that neglects detail amidst "positive attitude" bluff, this is a readable, accessible title that I believe would assist people in making a start in a profitable field.

This book directs a person who becomes an executor of an estate to follow a path that leads to probate court. I was looking for how to administer an estate when it was in a trust. I had to buy a different book to find the answers to my questions.

Even for a lawyer who does not practice in this area of law, this book is a must-see to help you get through the often times confusing area of probate. The book is well suited to the law in any state, and is especially helpful if you are the family member who gets handed the ball after a death in your family

I am so glad I found this book. I am administrator of my moms will and had no idea how probate worked. This book helped answer a lot of questions for me. Thank you for selling this.

EXCELLENT BOOK. It delivers what it promised.

EXCELLENT BOOK. If you ever wanted to know EVERYTHING about investing, financial planning, taxes, and making money this is required reading.

I haven't counted every word, but even the glossary must have defined at lease a thousand financial terms. It is filled with hundreds of pages of sound financial advice. Obviously, this book has been THOUOGHLY researched.

My friends are buying copies for their adult children. I asked them why, and they said that this book is filled with the things EVERY young person need to know and they, as the parent, may have failed to communicate. Perhaps, because they, the parents took for granted that their children would absorb the information just by being their children.

And, these are my CPA's, those with MBA's, leader of major corporations, and my stockbrokers. I do not understand why, but my wealthier and better-educated friends understand the value of this book more than the less educated and less wealthy. That is very unfortunate. But isn't that usually the case? Often, those that need the information the most appreciate it the less.

ANYONE that sincerely wants to buy a thoroughly researched financial reference book filled with hundreds of pages of detailed factual financial information will not be disappointed. Buy it today.
Financial Planning For The Not-Yet Millionaire,Pocket Change And A Prayer: That's ALL you need To get started

The Millionaire Mailman does contain a plethora of financial information. "My Inside Story On How I Became Rich..." however, is nonexistent.Did he write his own review? There are hundreds of pages of facts, but no tales of delivering mail in the sweltering heat of Texas while being offered lemonade by "the richest families in Texas" in their air conditioned homes(or anything like that). I was expecting a story, but I got a book full of facts you can literally find anywhere. I suppose it's nice to have all that copious information in one place if you need it, but there is nothing amusing or intersting or even any advice. "Inside Story" was very misleading to me.

It is breathtaking in scope. Clearly, it has been rigorously researched and documented. The hundreds of pages of timely business and personal finance advice are relevant in everyway. It explains in minute details how to prosper in any situation. Buy it today.

I really expected more out of this book, it was a disappointment. If you have no idea about property management then this book is probably good. If you are already in the business, it's probably not all that helpful. I expected more details and this was an overview.

this book was very good it explained the fundamentals of how to get started in the field of real estate. it went in depth on how the system works and how to make money in real estate. it provided a good look at where real estate is today and where it will be in the future.

The book totally met my expectations. I recommend this book to anyone considering a career change to the property management field. The author did an excellant job explaining what it takes to be a property manager/portfolio manager/supervisor/leasing agent/broker and how much each makes along with job descriptions of each job title.

Remember the old adage "the family that plays together, stays together"? Summer houses may keep some families together but not mine. The arrival of spring and the end of summer heralded two major operations-- opening and closing my in-laws' summer cottage. For me their summer cottage became a place of enforced drudgery where I tried to gain acceptance as a dutiful daughter-in-law-until I stopped going altogether. Sound familiar? If your relationship with relatives is heading in this direction get copies of Judith Balfe's books about ways families SUCCEED at sharing and passing on summer houses before it is too late. Even after it is too late Balfe's book still provides insights into how families work through problems of sharing and ACTUALLY HAVE FUN TOGETHER.

Judith Balfe, a sociologist of culture, has produced a compelling reflection on the meanings summer houses have in the lives of owners, their heirs and other users. Passing It On: The Inheritance and Use of Summer Houses focuses on how families reach agreements about what is fair and fun.

Deep feelings often rise to the surface when family members must grapple with questions about how to share the benefits and the burdens. By thinking through these issues families can begin to develop their own solutions building on the experiences of people who have actually worked things out.

A second and much shorter companion volume, co-authored with her brother, Ken Huggins a professor of education, is intended as a short practical manual for developing agreements in changing circumstances-How to Pass It On: The Ownership and Use of Summer Houses. This second book is designed as tool to help families talk about difficult issues and sort out trivial conflicts that could otherwise tear them apart--covering a wide range of issues from rules about sharing toilet paper and allowing pets to dealing with personality conflicts, divorce, taxation and ownership).

Balfe and Huggins draw on their experience as brother and sister who worked through problems when they and their siblings had to deal with inheriting the summer residence from their parents.

In the main book (Passing it on) Balfe presents research from published sources and reports on a study of 125 respondents with summer houses in the U.S. and Canada. The respondents include "founders" (or the first generation of owners), heirs and other users of summer homes ranging from tiny cottages built on leased land to a privately-owned island off the New England coast assessed at US$8 million.

Some readers may prefer to skim the first three chapters about inheritance practices and theories of the function of summer homes and jump ahead to Chapter 4 when the voices of interviewees become stronger and practical advice abounds. But these are useful tools for thinking about the issues. Some accounts are hilarious depictions of the tensions of cottage life and others heartbreaking to read.

In this era of geographic mobility and family breakdown summer houses mean different things to different people- places to play, to express creativity, to work on projects or relax. They may sometimes provide a refuge for solitary retreats or romantic trysts, but in the warm weather months the summer house tends to fill up with relatives, in-laws and friends. These intense bouts of close contact make or break relationships. As people follow jobs to remote corners of the world and family elders retire in smaller abodes the summer home may become the only place where families can physically meet. In the words of one summer house user "This is where we are and do family"(p. 91).

Even within the same family inequities exist. Siblings frequently have different incomes and different levels of flexibility about vacation times; some live further away; some have many children; others none at all; some love pets others cannot abide them. Balfe presents a very useful analysis of various ways owners and prospective heirs plan for passing on the summer home and adapt to changing needs and tastes of family members. When is shared inheritance feasible? Do step-children have the same rights as blood relatives? Who gets to use the cottage during the best summer months? May brother's ex-wife who mother always preferred to her own daughters still have the place for a week each summer? And whose time is reduced as a consequence? Who pays for boat repairs? Should richer family members provide more funds for upkeep? How can handiwork for repairs, cleaning or renovations - or "sweat equity"- be taken into account? What financial, legal and administrative agreements need to be reached for successful sharing? How should owners plan for the next generation of users? When is multiple inheritance feasible?

This is a "must-read" for anyone faced with planning how to "pass it on". In fact I think it provides a useful set of guidelines for sharing other types of accomodation. I particularly liked the idea of the "Boast Book" - a journal of tasks and improvements left in the cottage in which sojourners record their contributions. Moments spent at summer houses certainly provide lasting memories. I wish my in-laws had talked about these issues long ago.

"Passing It On" is a major achievement. Written by a sociologist, but not dry/abstract: it's full of wonderful human-interest stories.

The book is about second (vacation) homes, and how families share and inherit and strive to keep them going. Author Balfe and her brother (Ken Huggins) have also written a companion book ("How to Pass It On") which gives more specific how-to information. The reader should buy and read both.

I married into a vacation home on an island in Maine. One of 24 houses on the island. First, it was owned by my in-laws; now it's owned by my wife and her brother; and we've set up a system to maintain/preserve the house. Both generations in our families (current middle-aged adults and their children) are very committed to the house; but this is not always the way it is - so I read "Passing It On" and "How to Pass It On" with both interest and concern.

In January, I sent a memo to 75 other people involved in houses on our island. There I said, "'Passing It On' and 'How to Pass It On' are an important resource for anyone who's facing dispostion of property (and that's all of us!). It's a scholarly work, but it also full of very human stories of people like us. So do buy and read. If lots of you have done that by next summer, and you'd like to talk with Judy, I'm sure she'd be very pleased to come to our island for a week-end."

Although interesting, the book does not contain much practical information. It appears to be a college term paper that the author went on to publish. I do wish there were more usable ideas and realistic suggestions.

Even if you appreciate the importance of planning your business -- a MUST -- this guide is a very good resource to get you started. Much better for the experienced agent than a new licensee.

Even though another reviewer said this is not good for a new agent, I disagree. Firstly, it is my Broker's favorite and he has built a successful business using it. Secondly, IT SHOWS YOU HOW TO FIGURE PROFIT AN LOSS ON ANY GIVEN REAL ESTATE "MARKET" OR "FARM", something no other book explains this way. Once you know how much revenue a given area could produce, then you can pick the best areas to concentrate in. Since we all have to focus on a few areas or farms, this book gives a great way to choose the best farms to work on.

Because of this formula, I am able, as a new agent, to not waste my time on unprofitable markets. Although it is not just for beginners, this book is a good one to start with and it will grow with you as your career grows.

Tobeykins

Being a new real estate agent I brought this book with the hope that it would help me build my new business. I was wrong. This book mainly talks about looking at your past few years of realestate sales and changing your program using your past data into a better program. Utterly useless for the beginning agent. Carla Cross has a very good title writer for her books, since i brought her another one of her books in vain.

I took this book out of a library and then decided that I needed to buy it! I couldn't put it down. The instructions for saving retirement monies from taxes are very clear. I'm going to do as it says immediately.

The book discussed so many subjects that I have been looking for answers in. From estate planning to investment tips. I am glad I bought this book

Would pass on this one...lots of words but not very informative..

It's a good resource, wish there were some forms to use for gathering info and presenting it to executives.

This really isnt very helpful. Just sloppy steps, theory free, derived from some fast dated case studies, revealing nothing.

I am a facility planning consultant and have looked at practically every book about aligning the built environment with business needs. "Strategy and Place" will be the one book I will be recommending to my clients because of its broad and deep coverage of the strategic and organizational issues which impact facility decision making. O'Mara clearly describes the numerous ways in which facility resources enhance organizational vitality. Its most significant contribution is a description how business uncertainity impacts decision making. A must read for anyone who has a part in formulating facility strategies.

This book is just garbage. Anytime you see "Secret" in the title it's a good idea to step away. The book centers around equity-indexed universal life insurance which, if you don't already know, is a really easy way for you to give your money away.

A very worthwhile work, interesting and thought provoking. The book addresses a wide range of topics related to building wealth, protecting assets, reducing taxes and estate planning.

Best book I have read on financial planning. Covers both personal and business issues. Definitely worth the read. Great advice.

I am not quite finished reading this book, however, I am a bit disappointed in the focus of the beginning chapters on the 'extended/blended' family situations. I have been married to the same guy for almost 50 years and there are none of those side stories to deal with. I realize a lot of modern society does have these problems, but I don't want to hear about them. The portions of the subject I do want to absorb I need to re-read. It is a complicated matter.

This book will give you some new thoughts on the old Will...now you can
leave the money to your children and it will go to them, and will not
be subject to any other legal action. A Safe Will...about time we had
something like this.

Most people probably believe that a will is sufficient to avoid major inheritance and probate problems. Budish asserts the contrary, offering an example in which a mother willed assets to her daughter, and these ended up being split with the daughter's husband upon their divorce. Budish estimates that his approach (SAFE Trust) would cost about $3,000 and prevent such problems. HOWEVER, the reader later learns that this is only true for assets that remain in the trust and have not yet been spent, and thus is left to wonder what value a SAFE Trust has for those planning to use the money.

Budish states that wills are filed with the local probate court and anyone can challenge the will. The executor must make a list of everything owned at death and every expenditure must be approved by the court (eg. insurance, taxes, utilities) - something that won't happen for free. Budish cites a 1990 AARP study that found probate of estates less than $100,000 took at least a year, and fees can deplete assets by up to 10%, even in uncomplicated cases.