Comments for Foreclosure Resource Guide

Comment on Essentials of Real Estate Finance, 10th Edition by Alida Reyes

Alida Reyes — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:48:36 +0000

Review by Alida Reyes for Essentials of Real Estate Finance, 10th Edition Rating: This book gives in depth instruction in Real Estate Finance. The author not only explains lending from a commerical perspective, he also addresses the residential market as well.

This is an excellent book for instruction as well as reference.

Comment on Essentials of Real Estate Finance, 10th Edition by Steven Vornea

Steven Vornea — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:32:24 +0000

Review by Steven Vornea for Essentials of Real Estate Finance, 10th Edition Rating: Thought this book was more of a starter for individuals interested in real estate finance. If you're an experienced player in real estate, you may find this book to be quite boring. Beginners should take a liking to the read.

Best,
Steven Vornea

Comment on Essentials of Real Estate Finance, 10th Edition by John P

John P — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:42:25 +0000

Review by John P for Essentials of Real Estate Finance, 10th Edition Rating: I expected something a bit more in-depth rather than a primer. There really isn't much here that wasn't covered in each of the, sort of generalized, real estate practice books I purchased for about the same price. I was severely disappointed with the short shrift given to most of the topics and pity those poor souls who paid list price for this book.

Comment on Essentials of Real Estate Finance, 10th Edition by sandy lee

sandy lee — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:42:21 +0000

Review by sandy lee for Essentials of Real Estate Finance, 10th Edition Rating: This is a great book for anyone who is interested in learning real estate finance from the beginning without a finance background. The book provides readers with a wide coverage of fundamental finance principles. Readers will get a good sence of the current finance industry trends from this book. There are many easy to understand examples given under the "In Practice" narrative feature.

Comment on Be a Real Estate Millionaire: How to Build Wealth for a Lifetime in an Uncertain Economy by Ana V. Lopez

Ana V. Lopez — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 02:30:48 +0000

Review by Ana V. Lopez for Be a Real Estate Millionaire: How to Build Wealth for a Lifetime in an Uncertain Economy Rating: DON'T FALL INTO THIS TRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dean is a very good speaker and yes he is a millionaire, because after he sells his book to you someone will call you to ask a few questions and "if you qualify" they will take you by the hand on your first 5-6 deals.
Do you know how to qualify? They ask you how much you are currently making, if you have availability in a credit line, or a credit card, because to start making money you have to invest. I asked how much money he was talking about; he said minimun $10,000 TO $15,000 to get started "conservatively" and if you want to talk to Dean $25,000.00 !!!!!!!!!!! With that money, I can put a down payment on a property and buy it myself, and have equity after the moment I close. He thinks we are STUPID! When I told him we wanted to start with "NO MONEY DOWN" and no investment of our part HE HUNG UP ON ME!!!! and moved on to his next victim!!!!!!!! PATHETIC!!!!!!!

Comment on Be a Real Estate Millionaire: How to Build Wealth for a Lifetime in an Uncertain Economy by C. J. Montgomery

C. J. Montgomery — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 01:44:10 +0000

Review by C. J. Montgomery for Be a Real Estate Millionaire: How to Build Wealth for a Lifetime in an Uncertain Economy Rating: I saw a TV ad on this book and ordered it along with all the other items that I let them talk me into because it was a "special deal" since I was new.
As a real estate agent, I am looking for new ideas on a regular basis with plans to start flipping homes.
I should have done my homework on Dean Graziousis as when it was all said and done, I found the book to be mostly hype and a whole lot of bragging on Dean Graziosis and what a wonderful person he is. I really cannot tell you much more about the book other than he "walks on water" in his own mind.
I did plan on keeping the book but I attempted to return some of the products and I have never been treated so rudely in my life!! It took 50 to 60 phone calls and the best I ever received was you have called the wrong department and when I finally reached the right one, all I received was being HUNG UP ON!
Now I am a mature adult and run my own business and I have never hung up on a customer, ever! I just cannot imagine a person who claims to care so much about people, being so shielded by hundreds of different call answering companies, most of who have no clue what you are talking about. I was supposed to get a web page with the order, was supposed to be able to cancel the "Foreclosure Alert" program, etc. I was charged repeatedly as there was no way to get through to anyone who knew anything.
All I can say is there are a lot of honest, experienced writers out there but if you want really good advise "stay away from Dean Graziousi's and anything he has to offer, especially his good deals!

Comment on Be a Real Estate Millionaire: How to Build Wealth for a Lifetime in an Uncertain Economy by Susanna Hutcheson

Susanna Hutcheson — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 01:00:27 +0000

Review by Susanna Hutcheson for Be a Real Estate Millionaire: How to Build Wealth for a Lifetime in an Uncertain Economy Rating: As a couple other reviewers said, this is mostly a motivational book. There's certainly nothing wrong with that. But one is reminded of a famous real estate guru who led us down a similar path and got into quite a bit of legal trouble. Little of what he said was true. Yet he sold a multitude of books. So, buyer beware.

Here are a few things you'll see:

"Instead of looking for properties to buy, fix, and quickly sell (flip) for a profit, I look for foreclosures and distressed properties that I can buy for a major discount, rent to pay expenses, and sell when the market goes back up. For example, a few weeks before I wrote this, I purchased a two-family home in foreclosure for less than $60,000. I immediately refinanced the property for $192,000 and walked away with a check for well over $100,000 after all expenses were paid, and I still owned the property! Now I can rent this property to cover the mortgage and when the home market takes off again (and it will eventually), I'll be able to sell it for a profit or hold it through the next up cycle."

OK, so what's wrong with that? Well, on the surface, nothing. But I have a number of clients in this business who did just this. They're now in bankruptcy. And the current market "does" matter, no matter what the author would have us believe.

There's no harm in reading a book like this. But be very careful in taking advice from this author, or any author. You can lose everything you have in real estate --- especially in today's market.

Comment on Be a Real Estate Millionaire: How to Build Wealth for a Lifetime in an Uncertain Economy by K. Nunez

K. Nunez — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 00:47:38 +0000

Review by K. Nunez for Be a Real Estate Millionaire: How to Build Wealth for a Lifetime in an Uncertain Economy Rating: I'm a real estate investor and as an investor, you want as much information as you can get. You want to read books so you can be on your game. However, instead of information on how to conduct million dollar deals, financing, and other pertinent items on how to be a "real estate millionaire", I got something entirely different from this book.

PROS:
First, there are fundamental pieces of information in this book that is important. For instance, due diligence, that's a necessity.

CONS:
But the book itself doesn't offer anything specific. What I mean is, this is more of a book on how to have the proper attitude and the proper mindset. It isn't a step by step manual on how to conduct real estate deals you want in the high end market. If you are looking for a how to book, this is the wrong book for you. If you want to "feel" good and "think" rich, then this would tickle your curiosity.

ALTERNATIVES:
There are solid books that are less motivational and more actionable. Here are some starting suggestions:

Profit by Investing in Real Estate Tax Liens: Earn Safe, Secured, and Fixed Returns Every Time

Complete Guide to Real Estate Tax Liens and Foreclosure Deeds: Learn in 7 Days-Investing Without Losing Series (Investing Without Losing)

The Pre-Foreclosure Property Investor's Kit: How to Make Money Buying Distressed Real Estate -- Before the Public Auction

Comment on Be a Real Estate Millionaire: How to Build Wealth for a Lifetime in an Uncertain Economy by T. Chandrasekhar

T. Chandrasekhar — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 00:01:32 +0000

Review by T. Chandrasekhar for Be a Real Estate Millionaire: How to Build Wealth for a Lifetime in an Uncertain Economy Rating: On a sleepless late night I heard Dean on an infomerical promoting his book . He was impressive with his argument that this book specifically caters to the small window of opportunity that has arisen after the real estate and subprime meltdown. I have no doubt that Dean is a success story , a schooldrop out who became a millionaire by using real estates.

However I purchased ( actually pre-ordered) the book with a hope that he will have 'replicate'able real techniques (not hype and fluff) for real estate success.

Alas, a mega disappointment. The book can be broadly divided into three lifeless sections.

1. Motivational stuff
2. Basics of Real estate
3. Some sprinkling of Professional information

MOTIVATIONAL STUFF: This is the most annoying part of the book. If i want a motivational book, I wil buy one, not this book where I want specific ways to play this real estate market. Not convinced, here is a snippet

Chapter 8: Removing your Mental blocks to success (page 98 -113)
Subtitles: The power of choice
Break from the past
The fear of change
The fear of criticism
The importance of personal integrity

Chapter10 :Finding the time to improve yourlife (pg 124 - 135 )
Subtitles:Twenty-four hour time wrap
Where does your time go?
Plan your time
Manage your time
Tips for guarding your time
Tame the telephone
Delegate and replace yourself
Deal with information overload
Use the internet sparingly
Increase your discipline

Page fillers with some 'real life'story.. Can Dean explain how these motivational rhetoric help me make money?

BASICS OF REAL ESTATE:
Although irritating, I can live with this section since it gives some basics that probably anyone with simple reading habit would have known. These are another set of page fillers sprinkled with motivational stories

Chapter6: Getting started
Subtitles: Finding property to buy
Analyzing the property
Negotiating a price
Getting the money to pay the price
Selling the property

Titles are good,but if you are not aware of this basic level of information(provided), and you are motivated to act based
on this book, your chances of making a millionaire is better in a lotto!

PROFESSIONAL INFORMATION:
Chapters 16 - 18. This covers stuff like tax liens, preforeclosure, REO's etc. again it focuses on academic information and not something on which you can act upon( advices users to go to courthouse and no mention about realtytrac).I can accept this sections having some relevance to the title of the book

[...]My review will be deemed 'unhelpful' by several of those who have interests in seeing this book successful.

Spend some time with your kids , watch a movie or take a nap than wasting your valuable time on this book.

Comment on Real Estate Investing Made Simple: A Commonsense Approach to Building Wealth Reviews by Michael K. Goode

Michael K. Goode — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 12:47:57 +0000

Review by Michael K. Goode for How to buy real estate for at least 20% below market value, volume 2 Rating: This book has now been split into two volumes and all Reed's books are only available through his website. This book is heads and tails above most other real estate books. This is probably the most comprehensive and yet concise book on various ways to buy real estate cheap. While a couple of the examples are dated all of the strategies in the book should work except maybe for doing tenancy in common conversions of apartments in rent-controlled areas.

John T. Reed knows what he is talking about and he frankly discusses the risks and benefits of each strategy as well as the number of opportunities to use each strategy and the success rate of each strategy.

Rather than mindlessly following conventional wisdom and believing that real estate only goes up, read this book to find ways to get real estate cheap. If you buy 20% or more below market value it is very easy to make a satisfactory profit.