Real Estate Books

The Subprime Solution: How Today's Global Financial Crisis Happened, and What to Do about It

Robert J. Shiller

Amazon Price: $11.53 List Price: $16.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Princeton University Press Amazon Marketplace: 39 new & used starting at $10.38

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Economics
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Popular Economics -> General
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

The subprime mortgage crisis has already wreaked havoc on the lives of millions of people and now it threatens to derail the U.S. economy and economies around the world. In this trenchant book, best-selling economist Robert Shiller reveals the origins of this crisis and puts forward bold measures to solve it. He calls for an aggressive response--a restructuring of the institutional foundations of the financial system that will not only allow people once again to buy and sell homes with confidence, but will create the conditions for greater prosperity in America and throughout the deeply interconnected world economy.

Shiller blames the subprime crisis on the irrational exuberance that drove the economy's two most recent bubbles--in stocks in the 1990s and in housing between 2000 and 2007. He shows how these bubbles led to the dangerous overextension of credit now resulting in foreclosures, bankruptcies, and write-offs, as well as a global credit crunch. To restore confidence in the markets, Shiller argues, bailouts are needed in the short run. But he insists that these bailouts must be targeted at low-income victims of subprime deals. In the longer term, the subprime solution will require leaders to revamp the financial framework by deploying an ambitious package of initiatives to inhibit the formation of bubbles and limit risks, including better financial information; simplified legal contracts and regulations; expanded markets for managing risks; home equity insurance policies; income-linked home loans; and new measures to protect consumers against hidden inflationary effects.

This powerful book is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand how we got into the subprime mess--and how we can get out.

Chain of Blame: How Wall Street Caused the Mortgage and Credit Crisis

Paul Muolo, Mathew Padilla

Amazon Price: $18.45 List Price: $27.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Wiley Amazon Marketplace: 48 new & used starting at $13.00

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Economics -> Economic Conditions
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> General
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Real Estate -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 20 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Well written story of the mortgage crisis 4 out of 5 stars.
19 of 21 people found this review helpful.

Do your eyes glaze over when commentators try to describe the financial products that were at the heart of the recent real estate boom? The mortgage boom? This book described the instruments clearly--and gives the reader a great sense of what was fundamentally wrong with the whole process. The title is "Chain of Blame," but there is plenty of blame to go around.

The book is well written and lucid. Nonspecialists can understand it well. I heard talking heads on TV and radio described tranches, REITs, "liar loans," "warehouse line of credit," and so on. The authors describe these terms--and others--clearly and in such a way that the reader can begin to see what had happened--and why the meltdown in the mortgage world should not be seen as so surprising.

It is also the story of clever businessmen and women, who could develop new tools for investment from subprime loans. Subprime loans, simply, are (Page 325): "A loan originated by a lender that is A- to D in quality. Consumers with the best credit ratings. . .are considered 'A' credit quality." In short, loans are being made to purchasers who carry some to a lot of risk. If they can't keep paying their mortgages, the house of cards can fall down. And that is, in short, what happened (although the story is quite a bit more complex than that).

Among the innovators were pioneers such as Roland Arnall (of Ameriquest and Argent) and Bill Dallas (of Ownit Mortgage Solutions). Then, those who adopted practices of the innovators, such as Angelo Mozilo of Countrywide.

The book makes pretty clear that a number of factors contributed to the mortgage problem. Regulators didn't get involved; Wall Street firms ignored the volatile nature of subprime loans in a desire to realize enormous profits; banks bought into the profitable business.

Anyway, if the reader wants a well written, if not overly deep, analysis of the mortgage crisis, this is not a bad place to start.

Editorial Review:

In the summer of 2007, the subprime empire that Wall Street had built all came crashing down. On average, fifty lenders a month were going bust-and the people responsible for the crisis included not just unregulated loan brokers andcon artists, but also investment bankers and home loan institutions traditionally perceived as completely trustworthy.

Chain of Blame chronicles this incredible disaster, with a specific focus on the players who participated in such a fundamentally flawed fiasco. Authors Paul Muolo and Mathew Padilla, well-regarded journalists for National Mortgage News and the Orange County Register respectively, reveal the truth behind how this crisis occurred, what individuals and institutions-from lenders and brokers to some of the biggest investment banks in the world-were doing during this critical time, and who is ultimately responsible for what happened.

Financial Shock: A 360º Look at the Subprime Mortgage Implosion, and How to Avoid the Next Financial Crisis

Mark Zandi

Amazon Price: $16.49 List Price: $24.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: FT Press Amazon Marketplace: 33 new & used starting at $15.61

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Economics
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Popular Economics -> General
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Finance

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 49 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

From the Back Cover

The subprime financial crisis is the decade's #1 financial story. What happened? How did it occur? And how can we prevent similar crises from happening again? Dr. Mark Zandi answers all these critical questions - systematically, carefully, and in plain English. Zandi begins with a fast-paced "history" of the crisis: where it started, how it spread, and where the fallout has landed. Next, he illuminates its deepest causes, ranging from the psychology of homeownership to Alan Greenspan's missteps. You'll watch the "flippers" at work and the real estate agents who cheered them on. You'll learn how Internet technology and access to global capital transformed mortgage lending, helping irresponsible lenders "drive out" good ones. Zandi demystifies the complex financial engineering that enabled lenders to hide growing risks and shows how global investors eagerly bought in, despite key warning signs. You'll discover how homebuilders contributed to the crisis, and how flummoxed regulators and policymakers failed to prevent it. Zandi offers indispensable advice for investors who must recognize emerging bubbles, policymakers who must improve oversight and citizens who must reduce their risks, so they can survive whatever comes next.

Rich Dad's Advisors®: The ABC's of Real Estate Investing: The Secrets of Finding Hidden Profits Most Investors Miss (Rich Dad's Advisors)

Ken McElroy

Amazon Price: $11.53 List Price: $16.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Business Plus Amazon Marketplace: 108 new & used starting at $3.75

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Popular Economics -> General
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> General
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Real Estate -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 60 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Wasted my time...don't waste yours. 1 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

Rich Dad Poor Dad was great...this is not.

The title of this book is totally misrepresentative of the contents. This book is about buying huge apartment buildings all over the US. Not what I would call ABC's of real estate investing. Furthermore, if you are buying apartment buildings then you are probably too advanced for this book anyway.

The book is very basic and is easy to read. If you just want to get excited about the idea of real estate investing jump in.

If you want something to actually teach you about real estate investing grab a book like "Investing in Real Estate" by McLean and Eldred. Also check out the podcast "Get Real, Real Estate Investing for the Rest of Us".

Editorial Review:

Learn how the cash flow generated from property investments appreciates in value and ensures financial freedom, as well as the freedom to be your own boss. Discover real estate investing wisdom from the trenches with The ABCs of Real Estate Investing. Learn how to evaluate candidates based on the qualities of a good partnership, become familiar with various research tools, stay away from shaky deals, and establish systems for maintenance, accounting, rent collection, and more.

Investing For Dummies, 4th Edition

Eric Tyson

Amazon Price: $13.19 List Price: $21.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Wiley Amazon Marketplace: 55 new & used starting at $1.75

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Popular Economics -> General
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> General
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Industries & Professions -> Accounting -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 80 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Do you have a few investments that you would like to develop into a full investment plan? Would you like to know how to strengthen your portfolio? Perhaps you want to roll your 401(k) into a new plan? Whatever your agenda is, nowadays it’s hard to find good advice on where to invest your money.

Now you’ll have the ultimate one-stop, no-nonsense guide to investing with Investing for Dummies, Fourth Edition! This updated bestseller provides fresh data and analysis on where to put your money and how to improve returns on IRAs and 401(k)s, as well as investing fundamentals like examining your investment options and considering risks and returns. You’ll have all the tools you need to:

• Investigate and purchase individual stocks
• Buy bonds and other lending investments
• Select the right mutual fund
• Invest in the best stock, bond, and money market funds
• Choose a worthy brokerage firm
• Know when to invest in real estate
• Start and run your own small business
• Gather a collection of reliable investment resources

This handy reference is packed with tips and advice on how to conquer important investment obstacles and what to consider when selling an investment, as well as how to invest in a down market. With Investing for Dummies, Fourth Edition, you’ll soon have the power to turbo-charge your investment and maximize your returns!

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

Thomas Lucier

Amazon Price: $16.47 List Price: $24.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Wiley Amazon Marketplace: 61 new & used starting at $10.55

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Popular Economics -> General
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> General
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Real Estate -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 209 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

one of the top foreclosure books 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.

I spent a weekend reading the book. Loved it. The author knows what he is talking about. He also has a good website where you can download the proper letter you should send out to people in distress.

I own a foreclosure company and have adapted some of his techniques, nevertheless (not to take away any merit from the authorm but instead to enhance the next version of his book) our company principals felt like the letters were a little bit to hard on the person that is loosing their homes. And sometimes talking this hard to people could have negative consequences. We have to understand that these are individuals that when loosing their homes, can go into denial and sometimes enter into very heavy depression.

If you do decide to get into this process of sending out letters the only thing you should try and add to them, is to let the people know that you are there because you really care to help them out and you are not there to make a quick buck! People will give you their homes if you are upfront, honest and ethic about what you are trying to do.

Don't forget to add a little note written by hand thats tells the reader that you: "really care to help them!"

Other than that, you should buy the book if you are into the business of Real Estate.

Editorial Review:

Pre-foreclosure real estate is one of the hottest investment opportunities on the market. The Pre-Foreclosure Property Investors Kit offers step-by-step instruction and no-nonsense advice on how to find great deals, estimate fair market value, negotiate with sellers, sell your property on your own, and win big in real estate. Youll learn how to get the best deals on foreclosure properties before they go to auction and utilize simple ready-made worksheets, checklists, forms, and agreements that make getting started easy. Even people of modest means can get into pre-foreclosure investing—all it takes is a little hard work, persistence, and the tools youll find in this handy guide.

Home Buying For Dummies, 3rd edition

Eric Tyson, Ray Brown

Amazon Price: $14.95 List Price: $21.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Wiley Amazon Marketplace: 65 new & used starting at $8.35

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> General
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Real Estate -> Buying & Selling Homes
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Real Estate -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 95 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Though fun and exciting, buying a home can also be complicated and confusing—and most people learn the hard way that a wrong move can cost dearly. In order to find the perfect home at the best price, you must have skill, foresight, and a little guidance from experienced professionals.

Home Buying for Dummies, Third Edition provides just that! Packed with invaluable advice in an objective, down-to-earth style that will have you sitting in your dream home in no time, this friendly guide contains everything you need to know to play the home buying game. It has the tools you need to:

• Improve your credit score and select a mortgage
• Choose a time and place to buy
• Determine the price you want to pay
• Assemble an all-star real estate team
• Make use of the wonderful world of the Internet
• Negotiate your best deal
• Inspect and protect your home
• Handle and become responsible for the title
• Cope with buyer’s remorse

Featured in this guide are tips and tricks on things you should do after you seal the deal, as well as things you ought to know about real estate investing. Also included is advice on how to sell your house, as well as a sample real estate purchase contract and a good inspection report. Don’t get chewed up by the real estate market—Home Buying for Dummies, Third Edition will lead you to the home you want!

SHIFT: How Top Real Estate Agents Tackle Tough Times (PAPERBACK) (Millionaire Real Estate)

Gary Keller, Dave Jenks, Jay Papasan

Amazon Price: $14.93 List Price: $21.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: McGraw-Hill Amazon Marketplace: 41 new & used starting at $12.04

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> General
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Real Estate -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 31 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Shift is a MUST READ for today's market 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 4 people found this review helpful.

Wow! This book is a must read. These principles will help anyone make it through the SHIFT. Whether new to Real Estate or a Seasoned Veteran, this book gets to the core of what it takes to succeed.

It is filled with terrific graphs and is an easy read. Many have been waiting patiently for this book and they will not be disappointed. Many who have read it are already creating success by following the 12 tactics offered in this book.

I am an owner of two offices with over 320 agents in Las Vegas and Henderson, Nevada. I am recommending this to every agent so they can SHIFT with this SHIFTING MARKET. The tools in this book are exactly the same I've been teaching for months. This book covers all the bases and gives insights required to EXCEL in this market.

You will benefit from this fabulous must read!

Thank you Gary Keller.

Editorial Review:

The Millionaire Real Estate Series
More than 1,000,000 copies sold!

SHIFTS happen…

Markets shift, and you can too. Sometimes you'll shift in response to a falling market, and other times you'll shift to take your business to the next level. Both can transform your business and your life. You can change your thinking, your focus, your actions, and, ultimately, your results to get back in the game and ahead of the competition. The tactics that jump-start your business in tough times will power it forward in good times. No matter the market-shift!

SHIFT explores twelve proven strategies for achieving success in any real estate market, including

• Master the Market of the Moment: Short Sales, Foreclosures, and REOs
• Create Urgency: Overcoming Buyer Reluctance
• Re-Margin Your Business: Expense Management
• Find the Motivated: Lead Generation
• Expand the Options: Creative Financing

Irrational Exuberance

Robert J. Shiller

List Price: $10.95 By: Princeton Univ Dept of Art & Amazon Marketplace: 9 new & used starting at $31.49

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Popular Economics -> General
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Economics -> Theory
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 88 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

In this bold and potentially urgent volume, Robert J. Shiller, a respected expert on market volatility, offers an unconventional interpretation of recent U.S. stock market highs and shows that Alan Greenspan's term "irrational exuberance" is a good description of the mood behind the market. He warns that poorer performance may be in the offing and tells us how we--as a country and individually--can respond.

Shiller credits an unprecedented confluence of events with driving stocks to uncharted heights. He analyzes the structural and psychological factors that explain why the Dow Jones Industrial Average tripled between 1994 and 1999, a level of growth not reflected in any other sector of the economy. In contrast to many analysts, Shiller stresses circumstances that alter investors' perceptions of the market. These include the entry of the Internet into American homes, the misimpression that the aging of the baby-boom generation builds long-term protection into the market, and herd behavior, such as day-trading. He also examines cultural factors, including sports-style media coverage of the Dow's ups and downs and "new era" thinking about the economy. He considers--and challenges--efforts to rationalize exuberance that are based on either efficient-markets theory, narrowly construed, or the claim that investors have only recently learned the true value of the market.

In the most controversial portion of the book, Shiller cautions that a market that is overvalued by historical standards is inherently precarious. Among his prescriptions is an urgent plea to immediately end what he argues are perilous schemes to privatize social security in favor of plans to reform it. He also argues that private pension plans that encourage many people to put their entire retirement funds in the stock market should be modified. And he calls on our savings and investment institutions to take more sensible account of emerging risk-management principles. Shiller's analysis is convincingly documented, and--regardless of the market's future behavior--his book will stand as an important elaboration of why stocks soared and what our investment alternatives are.

Irrational Exuberance is a must-read for pension-plan sponsors and endowment managers in the United States and abroad. It will also be studied by investment advisers, policy makers, and anyone from Wall Street to Main Street who doesn't want to be caught sitting on the speculative bubble if (or when) it bursts.

Real Estate Investing for Dummies

Eric Tyson, Robert S. Griswold

Amazon Price: $14.95 List Price: $21.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Wiley Publishing, Inc. Amazon Marketplace: 67 new & used starting at $3.74

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Popular Economics -> General
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> General
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Real Estate -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 22 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

"This is simply the best book on the topic.”
—Randall Bell, Author, Home Owner's Manual

"Tyson and Griswold have truly opened the world of real estate investing to all by tackling often complex issues in this easy to understand and use book. I can't think of a better way to get smart about building wealth through rental properties than to read their excellent Real Estate Investing For Dummies!"
—Vern Hoven, CPA

Non-prime time TV is cluttered with infomercials about how you can buy non-prime real estate for next to nothing and get rich quick. Common sense should tell you that’s an exaggeration. (If common sense doesn’t tell you, bankers will.) Nevertheless, it is possible to get rich gradually by investing in real estate. Long term, you can expect to realize an annual return of 8 to 10% a year.

Real Estate Investing for Dummies gives you the keys to successful real estate investment, whether it’s in single family homes and condos, apartments, vacation homes, commercial properties (office, industrial, and retail), raw land, or REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts). With guidance from authors Eric Tyson, MBA, a financial counselor, and Robert S. Griswold, a veteran real estate investor, you’ll discover how to:

• Find and buy the best properties at a fair price
• Capitalize on opportunities such as foreclosures, no money down deals, auctions, tax sales, and more
• Secure financing and good mortgage terms
• Value, evaluate, and negotiate everything to do with real estate
• Work with agents and other professionals
• Project income potential and cash flow
• Handle contracts, inspections, and closings

Whether you’re interested in a fixer supper for rental, premier office space you can lease, or a vacation home you can enjoy and rent, when you become a buyer, you also become a landlord. That means you can hear from tenants any time, night or day. It means you may not hear from them when the rent is due. Real Estate Investing for Dummies also helps you:

• Find and keep good tenants
• Negotiate lease agreements
• Insure and maintain your property
• Keep good records for tax and accounting purposes

Remember, with any deal, you have to know when to hold them and know when to fold them. So Real Estate Investing for Dummies gives you guidelines on when and how to sell and how to reinvest to build wealth. It also lists 10 real estate investments you shouldn’t touch with a 10-foot pole. Especially if you’re tempted by those late-night infomercials, that warning could save you a fortune!