Review:

One thing that just about every one of us can be sure of in our lives is that we are going to be dealing with real estate in one way or another. For most of us I hope this means we will be acquiring real estate assets, and with all of financing options available today, real estate ownership can be realized by almost anyone. Even if you never do buy a piece of real estate, you will still have to deal with landlords and real estate laws. So the interesting thing about this book is that at first glance it looks as if it is only for real estate investors/future owners but it is just as advantageous for future renters to read to learn about all the tips and tricks of landlords, properties and the like.

With that said, how many of us grew up with an education in real estate? I am willing to bet that the answer is very few since it is not something currently mandatory in our education system. At the very least, everyone who makes it through high school or college should be granted the basic fundamentals of real estate and property ownership. That of course is a whole different topic. My point is that the knowledge contained in this book can serve each and every reader in some way.

For those of you who are not familiar with the “For Dummies” brand, these books put a bit of a fun spin on your ordinary text book while staying quite clear and concise in their teachings. They also serve as great reference material. I am sure you will see a few more reviews from me on this brand of books in the future.

Real Estate Investing for Dummies covers the whole gamut of topics and information. Topics include raising money, understanding real estate, finding properties, deciding between property types, operating the property, financing options, selecting and working with a broker, dealing with and selecting tenants and tax implications. There is even a sample purchase agreement included in the back.

The odds are that any topic of interest that’s related to real estate will be covered at least in brief but most likely in depth. You may find that your broker, assuming you have chosen a knowledgeable one, will be up to speed with many of these topics and will be wiling to provide you with much more in depth information on the most important topics of your proposed investment. It is of course always smart and prudent to come into a broker relationship with a strong foundation of knowledge from which to build. Real Estate Investing for Dummies gives you that base.

One of the most valuable sections I found in this book was More Than 10 Ways To Increase a Property’s Return. The title is perfectly descriptive. Many of the points appear to be “common sense” but we know how rarely that is actually practiced. Some not so obvious points include developing a market niche, refinancing and adding value through change in use.

Historically real estate investing has been one of the most lucrative investments of all time. There are many benefits to real estate as an investment that you will not find else where, and of course there are the negatives too. Take action by starting your real estate education today. There is no downside to understanding the industry and the odds are that it will have great implications on your future net worth. As you read more about investing and investment vehicles, your interest will likely begin to perk. This is especially true if you read some of the books from Robert Kyosaki’s school of thought. You may find after reading and learning about real estate, that it is the last place you would like to put your money from an investment stand point. If that is all you get out of this book then great. That too may be one of your more valuable lifetime financial learnings. The important thing is to expand your knowledge on this topic to allow yourself to make more accurate decisions toward your financial success in the future. This read is your way of taking action today to get closer to that goal.

-Reading for Your Success