Product Description
Explore the exciting world of institutional real estate investment where capital is flowing, players are rapidly changing, and management "best practices" are setting new standards for the entire real estate industry.

This book unlocks the realities of this emerging field by examining the management challenges faced by pension funds, investment advisors, REITs, developers, opportunity funds, corporations, and private investors.

Portfolio Management - How institutions invest in real estate in the context of a multi-asset portfolio and stringent regulatory standards.

Asset Management - How properties are professionally managed within a commercial real estate investment portfolio.

Transaction Management - How properties are bought and sold in light of intense competition and an increasingly hostile litigation environment.

Enterprise Management - How strategy plays a critical role in building successful institutional and entrepreneurial organizations.

The format features a creative mix of text and cases largely based on actual business situations. While primarily directed at students in graduate real estate programs, the book will also appeal to industry training directors, real estate professionals, corporate facility managers, and private investors. ... Read more

Product Description
Real estate wealth-building techniques that are--for once--grounded in reality instead of hyperbole

In a field rife with questionable, get-richquick schemes and scams, Jack Cummings has built a solid career out of providing real estate strategies that are sensible, logical, and achievable. Investing in Real Estate with Other People's Money features proven up-to-date strategies and techniques, with detailed examples of how to use each.

Everyone from novices to seasoned real estate pros will find useful ideas in this handson, how-to book. It provides all readers with the knowledge and fundamentals they need to become successful, including:

• How to become a real estate insider
• "No-money-down" strategies that actually make sense, with real-life examples
• Small details for increasing a property's value without spending a fortune

Customer Reviews (5)

Good for Starters
If you have not been really exposed to real estate investing this is probably a good book to understand how you can work with OPM (other people's money). However, for the more advanced investor it is quite disappointing. I would not even recommend it as a "refresher" course.

THE best I've read, and I've read many
I've bought many expensive courses and books on real estate investing, from the late-night TV guru to classic books on the subject. They all have some valuable information, BUT I WOULD TRADE HAVING BOUGHT THEM ALL IN FAVOR OF THIS ONE LITTLE BOOK UNDER $20. Whereas many real estate experts turned authors would have you believe that their courses give you tricks and secrets to wealth that you won't find anywhere else, Mr. Cummings explains in detail how all of these methods of finance are used all the time in real estate and are the foundations of amazing fortunes through property. Each technique is explained with examples, benefits, and potential pitfalls, each over the course of four to five pages. You can read this book in short snippets and walk away mentally charged with the possibilities or more likely get engrossed in the reading and not break for 100 pages. This isn't pie-in-the-sky, might work for somebody else stuff. This is how it's done all the time by the people that know how to maximize their return while minimizing their risk. I'm an avid reader and for books on financial success, I would place this book at number 2 on the must-read list, right behind Robert Kiyosaki's Rich Dad, Poor Dad. That book tells you why you must turn to property. This book tells you how to do it. I can't recommend it highly enough! Great, great book! By the way, any reviewers thinking the use of OPM (other people's money) to buy property is only useful if you just crawled out of a cave or just landed on earth must have paid all cash for their houses, otherwise, they used OPM. Any kind of financing IS the use of OPM!

3 1/2 stars
One reviewer obivously stopped reading.Yes Jack Cummings has a chapter on cosigning and one on borrowing against a life insurance policy, but he also has 38 other chapters on very creative ways to finance real estate.But lets face it, these books are written for novices, so cut him some slack.He's covering all bases.And there are a one or two other just as cheesy ones such as chapter 37, "The Root Beer Float"(And in fact, this type of advice is why I didnt rate the book higher - but if you can gleen a couple of ideas to use then I feel a book is worth it).

Every type of financing one could think of is covered in this book from syndication to yes, using a family cosigner.Each idea also includes possible pitfalls.I rate this book 3 1/2 stars and feel it is a solid purchase.

Archaic and useless
Investing in RE with OPM is useful if you just came out from a cave or just landed on Earth. Can't make a deal work? Great suggestions from Cummings include asking your family member (THE FAMILY LOAN), borrowing against life insurance policies (MUST really really make sure that its whole and not term)(THE POLICY LOAN) and how about asking for a co-signer (THE AUTOGRAPH COLLECTOR). Only Cummings can manage to write chapters and pages about how to get a loan from a family member or how to add a co-signer to a loan. Investors, please, you have more important things to do.

Investing in less then a week-Great book with Excellent INFO
I read this book in less then a week and I am already putting together a purchase proposal following this books examples.It has many great ideas and explainations of how to flip properties, using first and second mortgages to benefit you, using home equity, taking a mortgage from the seller when they have 100% equity.I have been a minor in real estate for a few years, but this book has opened my eyes to new ways and techniques that I wish I knew many years back.

Jack Cummings is a great author, easy to read and follow.Nice short chaperts. ... Read more

Product Description
Successful Real Estate Investing is written specifically for novice investors who want to get started with confidence. It highlights 75 of the most common mistakes investors make and offers specific, real-life strategies for avoiding them. Each mini-chapter covers one mistake and offers pearls of wisdom based both on Robert Shemin’s long experience as an investor and on case studies of investors he has met or assisted along the way. For investors worried about making a particular mistake in any step of the investment process, this is the only real estate guide that offers quick, expert guidance on avoiding everything that could–but won’t!–go wrong.

Successful Real Estate Investing covers these mistakes as well as many more:

• Forgetting to screen all tenants
• Not taking in adequate cash flow
• Missing out on special loan programs
• Not having the proper insurance
• Holding onto a rehab or rental house that won’t sell or rent
• Thinking short-term when you should be thinking long-term
• Punishing bad tenants without rewarding good ones
• Failing to establish minimum requirements for tenants
• Failing to inspect properties regularly

But Successful Real Estate Investing is more than just a list of troubles to avoid, it also teaches the most important keys to real estate success: keep it simple, believe you can do it (because you can!), inform yourself so you know what you’re doing, and stick with it! With common sense and the uncommon guidance you’ll find here, there’s nothing standing in your way! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Not enough information.
I've just become interested in real estate investing and this is the third book I've read.It's the first one where the author repeatedly pushes his other products as part of the solution for avoiding the mistakes he identifies.It has been helpful to read the short examples he presents, just to have an awareness of these pitfalls, but he doesn't adequately discuss avoiding the pitfalls.I'm glad I borrowed this book from the library before buying it because it isn't a book I feel is worth owning.

Not for the beginner in real estate vocabulary.
The tips may not make much sense if you haven't experienced any real estate dealings yet.It did remind me how important asset protection is.It teaches you mistakes to avoid, but if you're busy trying to avoid all mistakes...you will never learn anything.For the most part I found this book to be a shameless attempt for product promotions.Some of the phone number resources didn't even work!But if you want daily bread to feed on...you get 75 slices.Just don't expect to get full.

For beginners only
This book is simple, direct, very basic, and unfortunately I agree with others who feel it's primary purpose is to sell other products and services.

Uninspired Fluff
Even as a beginner real estate investor I knew that this book was hardly worth reading. It probably took Shemin two weeks to write it and you can read it in an afternoon. Only one or two insights and a lot of real estate common knowlege. It's like Cliff Notes for a REAL investor book. Do yourself a favor and pass on this one.

Don't waste your money
as a professional real estate investor I found this book to be a complete rip off. Most of the pages were only partially filled and what was written was compeletly vague hype. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Most HELPFUL person I ever met, wrote this book!
Hi, My dad wrote this book. Dad LOVES helping people. If you buy this book, you can get his address on the first page and contact him if you have ANY questions. Try him, you will like him. GREAT TEACHER he taught Real Estate Investing at a local college,several high schools,park district and at an adult education class. He did seminars.Ed is currently speaking at APARTMENT OWNERS ASSOCIATION MEETINGS. He is the recipient of THE LOWRY-NICKERSON LIFE TIME ACHEIVEMENT AWARD. Four of Ed's 7 children are full time landlords. Their stories are in this book. My brother in law Torry,has 3 kids, a big beautiful home and retired at age 40 and has managers taking care of his properties. My brother in law Harry,has 196 apartments,kids,a pool, and a horse. Mark, my brother has lot of apartments,kids,built a log cabing next to Paul's on a lake up north and has always traveled! My brother,Paul...is worth many millions!OWNS a whole block of apartments, even turned an old bank into apartments.. has 5 kids,a beautiful brick house with a 50 acre lake, a 3 story log cabin up north on another lake and an airplane. My Son, Eddie,(Authors-grandson),just out of college,bought his first 2 unit and lives rent FREE in one half. The wives in this REAL story,have babies and stay home and do the bookwork. NICE!GOD BLESS. Joan

New reprint
This excellent book has been out of print for some time. I have worked with the author, Ed Shumaker, to reformat and typeset, and the book is in print again! All the original material, 227 pages, spiral bound.

Creative Genius
This book is a great tutorial on how to start on the right path to real estate success.Yet at the same time a great and interesting read about the many different stories real estate investors have.

I highly recommend. ... Read more

Product Description
The AFIRE Guide to US Real Estate Investing is a 31 chapter primer on investing in real estate in the United States. Written by some of the leading practitioners in their field, it is not meant to be an exhaustive study of all the issues, rather it is intended to acquaint the reader with the major issues and to ensure the savvy foreign investor asks the right questions. Chapter titles include: Entering the US Market: Choosing a Strategy; Joint Ventures: Structures and Terms; Rules Applying to Real Estate Investment and Operations: The Basics of US Real Estate Law; Taxation of Foreign Investors in US Real Estate under FIRPTA; General US Income Tax Rules Affecting Foreign Equity and Debt Investment in Real Estate; Home-Country Tax Considerations for Foreign REIT Investors; Impact of State and Local Taxes on Foreign Investment in US Real Estate; Restructuring and Workouts of Real Estate Loans; Islamic Finance: Basic Principles and Structures. ... Read more

Product Description
Real estate investing guidance that only SmartMoney could provide
As the financial markets waiver and mortgage rates continue to be near their historical lows, many people are looking to real estate as an investment alternative to stocks and mutual funds. But for those with little real estate investing experience, entering into this arena can be intimidating. The SmartMoney Guide to Real Estate Investing has been written to help anyone interested in real estate gain a firm understanding of real estate pitfalls and potentials. It clearly walks readers through real estate basics to educate individuals who may be looking to buy a home for themselves or merely as an investment. Information on mortgages, selecting property, working with brokers, and renovations are discussed along with many other real estate topics including: investing in single-family homes; the purchase of homes with low down-payments; performing renovations that will increase property value; flipping homes for profit; and navigating the turbulent waters of vacation and retirement home buying.Filled with expert knowledge that only SmartMoney could provide, The SmartMoney Guide to Real Estate Investing is the best choice for learning about real estate investing.

Gerri Willis (Cincinnati, OH) is the Senior Financial Correspondent for SmartMoney magazine. She is an experienced and award-winning business writer and a frequent commentator on CNN, CNBC, Fox News, and MSNBC. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Smart Money Guide To Real Estate Investing
two words: Don't bother!In a few more words...This book is a cursory look at real estate...it should have been trimmed down and used as filler articles.I have read a few real estate books lately and this one told me NOTHING new, it was a quick uninformative read.

It never got down to the brass tacks.If you want to know what to look for in a property or how to know you're getting a great loan or price FORGET IT...you would probably be better off spending the purchase price on lunch with someone you know that owns a rental already.Oh yeah, some of the stats will make property owners feel good.

collection of magazine columns
This book is not a comprehesive guide to Real Estate Investing but a collection of magazine articles written largely for homeowners.

Worst realestate investing book read so far!
Very superfical.More about purchasing a single family home to live in than investing.Obviously very little research was done, the writer does not invest her self. ... Read more

Product Description
Learn Advantages of real estate investing over other investments, like leverage, inflation hedging and tax benefits

Understand the New York City area real estate market like an expert

Pick which real estate investment suits you --
Strategies from conservative to aggressive, lots of time or little time, plenty of funds or almost no funds

Discover what areas of the city offer the best prospects for success ... Read more

Product Description
I have good news for all of you looking for a way out of the daily grind of an 8 to 5 job. You can take the first step into securing your financial future by using some easy methods discussed in this book. Methods that have been used a countless number of times by people just like you and I. Finally!! There's a realistic guide for the average income individual to begin investing in real estate.Now you can get rich quick, right?Not exactly, but it can happen over time.This time will pass anyway, so why not take advantage of it.Where will you be in ten years if you change nothing?Where could you be if you begin investing now?Determine: . How To Find Bargain Properties. How To Fix Up and Repair. How To Choose Whether To Rent or Owner Finance. How To Become the Bank. How To Be Your Own BossThese questions can be answered in this simple step-by-step guide to real estate investing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Good book, but investing in real estate as a tax-shelter is not possible anymore
Most real estate investing books are written for people who are looking to grow wealth instead of preserve it. This book is targeted for people who are already successful and would like to invest in real estate, but do not have the time to do it themselves. They can participate in real estate limited partnerships.

The author writes that one of the reasons to invest in real estate is to shelter one's income and pay less in taxes. Unfortunately, this is not possible after 1986, since the government put an end to this practice. Readers can still learn from this book, but investing in real estate as tax-shelters is not an option anymore.

- Mariusz Skonieczny, author of Why Are We So Clueless about the Stock Market? Learn how to invest your money, how to pick stocks, and how to make money in the stock market ... Read more