Introduction 1Part 1: Getting Started with Real Estate Investing 5Chapter 1: Evaluating Real Estate as an Investment 7Chapter 2: Covering Common Real Estate Investments 27Chapter 3: Considering Foreclosures, REOs, Probate Sales, and More 49Chapter 4: Taking the Passive Approach 67Chapter 5: Fast Money: Small Down Payments and Property Flips 85Chapter 6: Building Your Team 95Part 2: How to Get the Money: Raising Capital and Financing 113Chapter 7: Identifying Sources of Capital 115Chapter 8: Financing Your Property Purchases 127Chapter 9: Securing the Best Mortgage Terms 147Part 3: Finding and Evaluating Properties 157Chapter 10: Location, Location, Value 159Chapter 11: Understanding Leases and Property Valuation 191Chapter 12: Valuing Property through Number Crunching 205Chapter 13: Preparing and Making an Offer 233Chapter 14: Due Diligence, Property Inspections, and Closing 253Part 4: Operating the Property 291Chapter 15: Landlording 101 293Chapter 16: Protecting Your Investment 329Chapter 17: Recordkeeping and Accounting 341Chapter 18: Looking at Tax Considerations and Exit Strategies 357Part 5: The Part of Tens 385Chapter 19: Ten Ways to Increase a Property's Value 387Chapter 20: Ten Steps to Real Estate Investing Success 399Appendix: Sample Purchase Agreement 409Index 417
Eric Tyson is a five-time bestselling author, real estate investor, and syndicated columnist who gives people the tools to better manage their personal finances and investments. Robert S. Griswold, author, teacher, and a successful real estate investor, is an active, hands-on property manager with a large portfolio of residential and commercial rental properties.