The Money Mustache Community
Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Real Estate and Landlording => Topic started by: arebelspy on December 19, 2013, 08:21:48 AM
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Real Estate Book Recommendations
Building Wealth One House at a Time by John Schaub (http://www.amazon.com/Building-Wealth-One-House-Time/dp/0071448357) - This is the first book I personally recommend to someone brand new to investing. It's a very easy read and good for overarching concepts without getting bogged down in the technical details that often slow down beginners. There are some caveats to that book (I think his appreciation assumptions are unrealistic, which is the biggest flaw, IMO), but overall it's a solid place to start to wrap your head around the various concepts.
After that you will need to decide what you what to do in Real Estate to decide what path to start researching.
There's real estate books for every topic under the sun. Someone wanting to landlord versus rehab versus wholesale versus focus on SFRs versus commercial versus mobile homes versus mobile home parks versus storage units, etc. etc. etc. should all be focused on different things. So what are you looking to do?
Figure out what niche you want to focus on, and then target some good books in that area.
That being said, here's a few recommendations of some more "generic" books that may help you in the more common real estate pursuits.
Investing in Real Estate by McLean & Eldred (http://www.amazon.com/Investing-Real-Estate-Gary-Eldred/dp/1118172973) is a good general knowledge book.
2 Years to a Million in Real Estate by Martinez (http://www.amazon.com/2-Years-Million-Real-Estate/dp/0071471871) and The Weekend Millionaire's Secrets to Investing in Real Estate by Summey and Dawson (http://www.amazon.com/Weekend-Millionaires-Secrets-Investing-Estate/dp/0071412913) are both decent books (both give fairly generic advice, but good to reinforce the concepts to make sure your head is fully wrapped around them).
What Every Real Estate Investor Needs to Know About Cash Flow... And 36 Other Key Financial Measures by Gallinelli (http://www.amazon.com/Every-Estate-Investor-Financial-Measures/dp/0071603271) is a good book with lots of formulas if you're into the math part of deal analysis. Read a mini-review of Gallinelli's Cash Flow book by forum member grantmeaname right here (https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/mustachian-book-club/mini-review-what-every-real-estate-investor-needs-to-know-about-cash-flow/).
The Unofficial Guide to Managing Rental Properties by M. Prandi (http://www.amazon.com/Unofficial-Guide-Managing-Rental-Property/dp/0764578189) is great. Lots of gems in it. I actually had it in PDF and loved it so much I bought a physical copy for my bookshelf.
Landlording: A Handymanual for Scrupulous Landlords and Landladies Who Do It Themselves by Leigh Robinson (http://www.amazon.com/Landlording-Handymanual-Scrupulous-Landladies-Themselves/dp/0932956335/) is a useful guide for someone landlording their own properties. It's fairly large, and better used as a reference manual than read straight through.
Many (all?) of those you should be able to find used (on Amazon, for example).
Other recommended reading: BiggerPockets.com (http://www.biggerpockets.com) - their Blog (http://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/) and Podcast (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/biggerpockets-podcast-real/id594419649) are both quite informative, and their forums (http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums) can be a good source of quick information as well.
Rich Dad, Poor Dad is often cited by real estate investors as an inspiration source, but I'm not even bothering to link to it for a number of reasons. In any event, it doesn't have much in the way of real estate investing, beyond "you should do it" instead of buying liabilities.
And, of course, experience is the best teacher, so you'll learn by actually getting out there and doing it. But since a book is much quicker to do than a real estate deal, get as much knowledge into your head as you can - without succumbing to analysis paralysis - before you do so.
If you are thinking about going in a certain direction with your real estate investing, and want a specific book recommendation, please PM me and I'll let you know, and add it to this thread.
If you have any of your own books to recommend that have not been mentioned yet, feel free to post them, with a short description. If you just want to discuss these books, please do so over in the Real Estate Book Recommendations Discussion Thread (http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/real-estate-and-landlording/real-estate-book-recommendations-discussion-thread/).
[MODERATOR NOTE:] Posts in this thread that are not direct recommendations of a new book not yet listed(e.g. a post saying "Thanks!" or "I read X book - already recommended - and it's good") will be ruthlessly deleted pruned in order to keep this thread "clean" to use as a resource. If you want to discuss the books in this thread, or ask questions, please use this thread: Real Estate Book Recommendations Discussion Thread (http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/real-estate-and-landlording/real-estate-book-recommendations-discussion-thread/). Please don't use any affiliate links in this thread. [/END MODERATOR NOTE]
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I'm a huge fan of:
1.) Landlording on AutoPilot by Mike Butler
2.) The Unofficial Guide to Real Estate Investing by Spencer Strauss
3.) Investing in Duplexes, Triplexes, and Quads: The Fastest and Safest Way to Real Estate Wealth by Larry B. Loftis
4.) The Book on Flipping Houses and The Book on Estimating Rehab Costs by J Scott
5.) The ABCs of Real Estate Investing: The Secrets of Finding Hidden Profits Most Investors Miss (Rich Dad Advisors) by Ken McElroy
6.) How I Turned $1,000 into Five Million in Real Estate in My Spare Time by William Nickerson
7.) How to Manage Residential Property for Maximum Cash Flow and Resale Value by John T. Reed
When I got started with Real Estate Investing, I spent hours at the library reading every book in their system, and these (along with the ones listed above in this thread) are my favorite.
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This isn't a book anyone will have heard of, but you should all read CREATING AN INDEPENDENT INCOME IN REAL ESTATE (http://www.amazon.com/Creating-Independent-Income-Real-Estate/dp/1462045960 (http://www.amazon.com/Creating-Independent-Income-Real-Estate/dp/1462045960))
I picked it up on a lark a few months ago, because I've met the author a couple of times. He's a guy who moved to my hometown (a small college town in upstate New York) to teach film theory; when that didn't pay the bills, he started supplementing by fixing up slumlord-owned houses and renting them out... forty years later, he's the biggest real estate owner/developer in town.
But what makes the book good is not the how-to details but just the overwhelming sense of OPTIMISM that pervades the book. It's very Mustachian! He tells all these stories about being surrounded by Complainypantses (to use the Mustachian diction), and showing them the light. He's a great storyteller. (I've been thinking abut doing a longer post recommending the book, but that will have to wait.)
(For disclosure, I'll repeat that I've met the guy a few times, but really---he's always just struck me as a 70-year-old MMM.)
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Real Estate Riches by Dolf de Roos
I keep a list of "books I need to read" on my phone and have added the ones above that I haven't read.
Thank you.
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I would second the "Investing in Real Estate" book by Gary Eldred. That is probably my favorite and the most detailed of the many real estate books I have read. That is probably the best book for the basics and then it is important to get out there and get some experience. Most of the other books all say the same thing pretty much. I learned so much once I got into RE investing on my own that was never mentioned in the books.
I know why some people dislike the "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" book but I still think it is a good book to read when you are just getting started in trying to achieve financial independence. That book really changed my thinking.
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I really appreciated the comprehensive nature of "The Millionaire Real Estate Investor" by Gary Keller (of Keller-Williams Real Estate fame). Perhaps the single best book I've read on the subject...and I've read a bunch.
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I have been a landlord for 14 years. And for me it has worked well with some lessons along the way. I am a 3rd generation landlord as well. I found this book to be an interesting and quick read and would recommend it to anyone considering becoming landlord or real estate investor. Not to talk you out of becoming one but to share with you that it's not all roses. It does actually take some work and some effort to become successful. Some get lucky but most have to work at it.
Why I don't invest in Real Estate written by Brian K. Fulmer
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Just started HOLD: How to Find, Buy, and Rent Houses for Wealth by Steve Chader, Jennice Doty, Jim McKissack, Linda McKissack, Jay Papasan , and Gary Keller (http://www.amazon.com/HOLD-Find-Rent-Houses-Wealth/dp/0071797041)
Apparently this is the final book in Gary Keller’s Millionaire Real Estate Investor trilogy.
I’m enjoying this book so should probably go back and read the first two.
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For advanced reading, after buying a property or two, try The Millionaire Real Estate Investor, by Gary Keller (co-owner, Keller Williams Realty). The book is based on interviews with Realtors who own residential rentals. Tons of good info, and interesting ideas.
As a real estate broker, and rental investor (30 years), I was really impressed by the number of topics and ideas. I always think it is fascinating to pick the brains of other RE investors. No "professor type theories"-just thoughts from the trenches. (I have read about 30 books in RE investing, and this is my favorite.)
Great bargain, too. I find copies cheap at thrift stores ($1-$2), and pass them along to friends and family. Also, often available on ebay for $10 or less.
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Real Estate Riches by Dolf de Roos
I keep a list of "books I need to read" on my phone and have added the ones above that I haven't read.
Thank you.
I read the de Roos book and panned it on Amazon. It's a rah-rah book of the worst possible sort, and gives no practical advice whatsoever.
You'd be far better off with anything by John T. Reed. In fact, if you go to his Web site and surf around, you'll find a whole bunch of free information that is more than worth the time you take to go through it. This guy actually puts his money where his mouth is. I met him at a conference once, and while his ideas about gold and hyperinflation are a bit extreme, he knows what he's talking about when it comes to investment real estate.
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Thanks for this list, Mustachians. My parents have done real estate for my whole life but I'm not sure I picked up much along the way. We may be in a position to buy a rental in a few years and this is just the preparatory reading list I've been looking for.
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Equity Happens by Helms & Gray
http://www.amazon.com/Equity-Happens-Building-Lifelong-Wealth/dp/0977488705
I just retired from traditional employment at age 31, largely thanks to this book. Comparatively expensive but worth it IMO.
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To start with, I would suggest you - Your First Year in Real Estate by Dirk Zeller.
Make sure that any REI book you choose should not be an old edition.
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Further to the Dolf De Roos suggestion
'101 Ways to Massively Increase the Value of Your Real Estate without Spending Much Money' - Renovated all my rental houses roughly to these guidelines so far. No Helipads yet though!
Any of the 'No money down' series by Robert Allen are great for getting around the mental gymnastics of creative finance. Needs to be read about 20 times before being fully understood but unbelievably useful once you do.
And 'The Rascals Guide to Real Estate' by Olly Newland. It's the really nitty gritty aspects of actually doing the deals, keeping the tenants and understanding the nature of the beast as a whole. None of that space and time wasting boasting you get in most RE books, very down to earth.
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All the Nolo Press real estate books are excellent.
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I really like this book. It really goes into how to work the numbers:
https://www.amazon.com/Estate-Investor-Financial-Measures-Updated/dp/1259586189/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1475279778&sr=8-3&keywords=gallinelli+books (https://www.amazon.com/Estate-Investor-Financial-Measures-Updated/dp/1259586189/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1475279778&sr=8-3&keywords=gallinelli+books)
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Apologies if I missed it somewhere upthread, but can anyone recommend a landording book for Canadians? We have some different laws, of course, and the tax implications are different here. Anyone have a book to suggest?
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Marc Andersen's Retire Rich from Real Estate is my favorite real estate investing book.
FWIW, over the years, I think I've probably read dozens and dozens real estate investing books (because I try to keep up with the stuff my real estate clients are reading and asking questions about).
Andersen's book, BTW, is very data rich. His was the first book I saw, for example, the discussed the Census Bureau's data about direct real estate investment... and how you can use this information to make better investment and management decisions.
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This new Bigger Pockets book on tax strategies for rental investors is great - easy reading, clear examples and case studies - by 2 CPAs. Already looking at how to restructure my rental affairs for better tax minimisation. For $10 (and that would be deductable too) I think it's a bargain even if you are 100% positive you are already minimising your taxes.
The Book on Tax Strategies for the Savvy Real Estate Investor: Powerful techniques anyone can use to deduct more, invest smarter, and pay far less to the IRS. Kindle Edition by Amanda Han (Author), Matthew MacFarland (Author)
https://www.amazon.com/Book-Strategies-Savvy-Estate-Investor-ebook/dp/B01BWDHLTQ (https://www.amazon.com/Book-Strategies-Savvy-Estate-Investor-ebook/dp/B01BWDHLTQ)
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Any book recommended for UK Real Estate ?
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Added these books into my reading list. Thanks for sharing.
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Does anyone have any of this books in a digital format?
Thank you
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E-books are also available online.
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I'm sorry, but I've recently read Building Wealth One House at a Time by John Schaub, and, as a beginner, I'm still totally lost on how to get started in this business.
The problem is that the author assumes you already have some basic knowledge about real estate investing, and he devotes the entire book to explaining how to locate properties and make offers. This is like teaching algebra to a first-grader, who hasn't even learned basic arithmetic yet.
I need a book that details every aspect of this business, from A to Z, including whom to contact first, what to say, and the standard procedures involved in purchasing a house (including all required paperwork, inspections, and anything else I never thought of).
Can someone recommend a book like that?
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Yeah I would also love some UK specific recommendations.
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Great collection of investment books.
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I'm sorry, but I've recently read Building Wealth One House at a Time by John Schaub, and, as a beginner, I'm still totally lost on how to get started in this business.
I haven't read Mr. Schaub's book but I did hear his interview on the Radical Personal Finance Podcast where he expressed a legal opinion that was so clearly unsupportable I had to send a follow up question to the podcast website asking for clarification. His response was even worse. I decided to pass on that quality of advice.
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Wow, great post...thanks!
The Millionaire Real Estate Investor by Gary Keller
Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
Those were the two that really got my butt in gear.
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Gonna get some of them, Thanks for the recommendations!
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I recently read Retire Early with Real Estate by Chad Carson. I didn't know the first thing about real estate, and I found the book to be a fairly helpful intro.
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I like investing in syndications because it's:
1) Passive, unlike single family rentals which are only pseudo-passive at best and a waking nightmare other times
2) Quite a good ROI
To not lose $100K in a real estate syndication, you should be able to read the waterfalls / numbers quite well. This book from Brian Burke (https://amzn.to/3JTgMfc) (whose syndication I personally invest in as full disclosure) gives a very good explanation / breakdown of all the terms, calculations, and intuition in real estate syndications.
My past results don't reflect the fund's future performance at all (since I have a deal with them that's somewhat stagnant), but I did exit a deal w/ them recently with a 23% IRR which I'm *quite* happy about.