How to Avoid being a Real Estate Dilettante
597887
This is a take no prisoners, unabashed look at the art and business of selling real estate.  It begins with the basics and quickly advances through the complexities and subtleties of the market.  Offering practical wisdom with razor sharp wit, it's a good read for anyone interested in real estate.  I would especially recommend this to anyone interested in starting a career in real estate or brushing up on their brokering skills.
308243
Worthwhile real estate info.
Using the book as a forum for his
political rants, many of which I do personally
happen to agree with, was ill advised and boorish.
I felt, during those pages, like I was sitting next
to some obnoxious guy on a long flight.
Pomposity aside, this guy really does have some
very good real estate insights.
But don't get in his car!!
187871
When I discuss Robert T. Kiyosaki's methods with friends, the most controversial, if not emotional, point to arise is whether or not a home is an asset or liability. Presently, in today's market, a home is a liability. Why? In San Diego alone, %48 of the mortgages are interest only loans. This is essentially gambling with the home market and trusting that home values will increase in the same percentage points as they have in the past. Apparently no one is listening to Mr. Greenspan or Mr. Kiyosaki.

When I mention the house is a liability to people and jokingly say I'm gonna wait until I have five million dollars to spare to buy a house with cash, people bulk and recite numbers like, "but 90% of the millionaires gained their wealth through real estate". Well, the point is many people are counted as millionaires based on the value of properties they don't even own free and clear.

This home-as-a-liability method certainly is not popular today since easy "wealth through real estate" has come to appeal to millions of people. Common sense states, if everyone's doing it, i.e. buying and selling homes in hopes of getting rich, isn't the market going to get diluted and values are going to go down? To this question, a San Diego mortgage broker responded, "You can't use common sense when it comes to real estate prices, you'll miss out."

Mr. Kiyosaki's point is don't do what everyone else is doing and think you'll get wealthy. When you think about it, "Buy a home now and you'll have lots of value later," sounds a lot like, "Go to college for four years and you'll find a great paying job after you graduate."  I'm glad that I read "Rich Dad, Poor Dad", it gave perspective when I thought I already had it.
3402903
Lereah does a good job of linking the upside in broad housing markets to Baby Boomer influences.  I agree that much of the 2nd home and resort real estate market will benefit from the boomer retirement phase.  Boomers transformed every other aspect of American life along their path, so it's not hard to see an upside in resort/retirement real estate too.

Easy read.  Good financials for novice - mid level real estate buyers.  Ignore his promoting of the realtor community.  The process is just not that complicated and he overstates their importance/role.
4718506
Full of timely, useful information for real estate professionals who dare to manage rental properties.
1402350
Making it in Real Estate is a must read for anyone starting out in the business.  I'd especially recommend the book for those with an entrepreneurial drive and passion; those who aren't afraid of hard work and are not looking for the next get rich quick scheme.  My favorite part of the book is John's ability to toggle between intellectual real estate sage and good old fashioned California dude seamlessly - not many books begin one chapter with a Tolstoy analogy only to turn around and talk about Bromance in the next...epic.  Overall, it's a fun, quick, incredibly insightful book that is well worth a read and will undoubtedly help you on your journey.  Invest in yourself, heed the words of a wise man, and read the book - you won't regret it.
1623690
I would have to agree that this is a great no-nonsense book for anyone interested or involved in Real Estate to any degree. I would go further and recommend it for anyone interested in business in general. It has lots of useful and truthful information and you don't have to specifically be in the field of Real Estate to benefit from it. This book will let you know if Real Estate is for you, or that it is not for you. It will tell you what you can expect and what you will need to pay attention to in order to be successful.
Even if you are just a curious outsider, you will gleen some insight into the realities that Realtors and business people in general face. It's a book that is easy to read, formatted well, priced right and even entertaining. Equally beneficial for Realtors already in the busines, those studying for their license, people wanting to buy or sell a home, or lost unemployed souls like me who don't know what the heck to do to make money.
2667553
Good perspective on including real estate in a portfolio.  Not as much how to as I would have liked.  With current yields on T-bills and TIPs so low, it is difficult to accept such a low return for the recomended 30% of portfolio.  Then again, he does know what he is doing, so why should I expect great advice to always agree with what I already think?  I will implement his suggestions and try to accept the US Debt recomendation.  At least the Chinese won't buy the bonds I buy!
4427157
As an entrepreneur and investor I am always interested in ways to leverage my efforts and to putting my money to work for me.  After the disastrous real estate meltdown of a few years ago, there are signs of recovery, so real estate interests me now and anything that will give me more information on how to invest, choose your niche, how to finance, and the different types of reals estate investing catches my interest from the get go.

What I liked about this book is the business approach ... set your goals, keep yourself accountable, get a team of professionals to advise and help keep you on track, develop a network, fund sourcing and more.  What would have made this a 5-star for me would have been a  more in-depth information on the different styles/types of real estate investing.
2697527
The book arrived in a timely fashion and the condition was excellent. The book gives a lot of very useful information and explains it well, but as I am currently selling a home that is not in foreclosure, the amount of details that come up unexpectedly and need to be remedied, I would say that the book is over-simplified. The real estate market is not for the faint of heart. A lot is riding on the details that may not be visible to the beginner.
1367408
Better read this first.

The noise alone would deter most people.

Is your neighbor going to sign? They should REQUIRE that you sign off as well.

IMHO.

Nice to have that extra income, but think and READ THIS first.

Tells the good, the bad and the ugly.
1608325
While this excellent book by Wade Cook offers 101 ways to buy real estate with nothing down, what I got from it was another 101 creative ways to buy real estate using none of my own money. My favorite technique covered in the book is #68 delayed down payment and delayed mortgage. I used this to buy my first property. People bashing this book---apparently the ideas went right over your head!
1164134
This book walks you through the world on Real Estate with its detailed ideas. Getting acquainted with the terms is always an advantage. It's important to know a lot of things before becoming a landlord with regards to maintaining your property and problems that may arise with the tenants. But first secure a location that is suitable to gain profit. Good book when investing on real estate with the bonus content on investing stocks.
3024373
The author does a good job of describing how to invest in real estate in a step by step way. While the book could use some editing, the basic information is all there.

The author also includes information about his personal wins and losses. These help to further the reader's understanding and make the author seem like a real person.

He also doesn't make it seem like doing this is a no effort deal - there is work involved if you want it to work. That was refreshing, sincere there are a lot of people out there trying to make it seem like you can reach your goals without any work involved.

I've been considering doing this for a while, so I can move my business to a better location. I think I'll re-read the book and give it some serious thought.

If you're considering dipping your toe into the real estate market, this is the book for  you.
1151888
I am a new real estate agent and have been having a bit of a difficult time with the standard practices my office is teaching me. You know,  the usual: door knocking, cold calling, harassing FSBOs, etc.  Things that make my stomach turn and question whether or not I am in the right business.  Every day I keep thinking: "there has to be a better way". While doing some on-line research on my quest to find some non-sleazy real estate gurus, I was fortunate enough to come across this gem of a book. Upon reading the introduction I felt as if Jennifer was speaking directly to me. I am a natural introvert and cringe at the thought of knocking on doors. This book was the wake-up call I needed: there is a better, more ethical....or soulful...way of doing business. Thank you Jennifer!!!
138006
It only helps people who are in real estate business, not typical home owners
1928017
If you're a salesperson of any kind I highly advise reading 7 Triggers. I am a real estate agent, and my fear of asking for business/sounding like a solicitor hindered me from expanding my database and clientele. Until I learned to stop what I was doing and take a different approach..using the 7 triggers. This isn't some gimmick either, Mr. Granger references credible scientific research throughout the entire book, and that's what convinced me to keep reading, because I had read about and studied some of the same concepts that Mr. Granger takes to the next level in this book, facilitating practical application for both business and life/relationships in general.