The Unofficial Guide to Real Estate Investing

If you think the only path to riches is through the stock market, then think again. In The Unofficial Guide to Real Estate Investing, Martin Stone and Spencer Strauss show how to generate financial security one property at a time. The authors, both real estate brokers, illustrate basic concepts such as researching and valuing properties, obtaining financing, managing tenants and expenses, and dealing with taxes. They believe that the "biggest little secret" in real estate is the tremendous leverage that investors can enjoy. They write, "If you have $9,000 to invest, for example, you could buy $9,000 worth of stocks, bonds, coins, or art. With $9,000 to invest in real estate, however, you could purchase a four-unit FHA apartment building worth $300,000." The book includes hundreds of tips on everything from how to minimize vacancies and be a good landlord to making an offer and working with contractors. Well written and easy to read, The Unofficial Guide to Real Estate Investing is a solid introduction for anyone seriously considering real estate as full- or part-time source of income.