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book suggestions on buying rental real estate?
01-08-2006, 05:27 PM
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#1
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Dryer sheet wannabe
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 11
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book suggestions on buying rental real estate?
Can anyone recommend a good book on buying rental property? We're looking to buy a duplex or triplex in a midwestern university town. I know the basics of buying real estate, but don't know the specifics of buying rentals.
Also, the rental we buy may be a beautiful old home. Any good books on buying old homes?
thanks
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Re: book suggestions on buying rental real estate?
01-08-2006, 06:46 PM
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#2
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 761
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Re: book suggestions on buying rental real estate?
No book recommendations but I highly recommend the chat section at: www.mrlandlord.com
The posters there are very helpful and can steer you in the right direction and keep you out of trouble with the law.
__________________
You take the blue pill - the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill - you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes.
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Re: book suggestions on buying rental real estate?
01-08-2006, 08:43 PM
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#3
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Lou-evil
Posts: 2,025
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Re: book suggestions on buying rental real estate?
Arif-
Do you mind sharing your general real estate strategy during your accumulation phase?
__________________
"These walls are kind of funny. First you hate 'em, then you get used to 'em. Enough time passes, gets so you depend on them"
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Re: book suggestions on buying rental real estate?
01-08-2006, 10:19 PM
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#4
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Oahu
Posts: 26,855
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Re: book suggestions on buying rental real estate?
Quote:
Originally Posted by madrone
Can anyone recommend a good book on buying rental property?
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Try these classics:
(1) Investing in Real Estate, 4th edition or later, by Andrew McLean & Gary W. Eldred (who's taken over the new editions) and
(2) Landlording by Leigh Robinson (7th edition or later).
Quote:
Originally Posted by madrone
Also, the rental we buy may be a beautiful old home. Any good books on buying old homes?
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Nothing comes to mind, but you're in for a real home-inspector challenge. Home Depot & Lowes probably sell how-to books focusing on this.
Before you start, you might want to watch the classic home-repair movies "The Money Pit" and "Pacific Heights".
__________________
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Co-author (with my daughter) of “Raising Your Money-Savvy Family For Next Generation Financial Independence.”
Author of the book written on E-R.org: "The Military Guide to Financial Independence and Retirement."
I don't spend much time here— please send a PM.
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Re: book suggestions on buying rental real estate?
01-08-2006, 11:39 PM
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#5
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: San Diego
Posts: 468
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Re: book suggestions on buying rental real estate?
Quote:
Originally Posted by madrone
Can anyone recommend a good book on buying rental property? We're looking to buy a duplex or triplex in a midwestern university town. I know the basics of buying real estate, but don't know the specifics of buying rentals.
Also, the rental we buy may be a beautiful old home. Any good books on buying old homes?
thanks
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A couple of real estate books I like:
"Secure your financial future investing in RE" by Stone & Strauss (2003)
"Value investing in RE" by Gary Eldred (2002)
I personally prefer to invest in multi-unit housing rather than single family houses. I look for buildings that do not need much physical improvement but are underperforming due to poor management (squabbling partners, below market rents, etc.). Lots of reference material available about valuing rental property (Gross Rent Multiplier, CAP rate, cash-on-cash return, etc.) is out there. There are many ways to skin a cat. Others on the site may like SFRs and fixers better than fourplexes and apt bldgs. If you're in the Midwest chances are you are not in an overheated market so your timing could be very good.
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Re: book suggestions on buying rental real estate?
01-09-2006, 03:27 AM
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#6
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Los Angeles area
Posts: 1,708
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Re: book suggestions on buying rental real estate?
If you want one guru's rating of most of the other
ones, you can go to :
http://www.johntreed.com/Reedgururating.html
__________________
learn, work, save, invest, fire
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Re: book suggestions on buying rental real estate?
01-09-2006, 06:13 AM
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#7
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Re: book suggestions on buying rental real estate?
REITS offer participation in Real Estate with Professional Management and no Tenant hassles.
Buying RE at this juncture is too risky, Rates can only go one way, that cuts down on your potential Income Stream and also may decrease the value of the property?
My opinion only, never landlord and no desire to be one.
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Re: book suggestions on buying rental real estate?
01-09-2006, 07:14 AM
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#8
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,463
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Re: book suggestions on buying rental real estate?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nords
Try these classics:
(1) Investing in Real Estate, 4th edition or later, by Andrew McLean & Gary W. Eldred (who's taken over the new editions) and
(2) Landlording by Leigh Robinson (7th edition or later).
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Nords, you must have a file of previous answers ready to paste -* I snipped your response to add to my list of books to read, and found it already there, verbatim.*
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Re: book suggestions on buying rental real estate?
01-09-2006, 07:57 AM
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#9
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Lawn chair in Texas
Posts: 14,183
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Re: book suggestions on buying rental real estate?
Nords is really a 14yo female computer from Missoula... :P
__________________
Have Funds, Will Retire
...not doing anything of true substance...
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Re: book suggestions on buying rental real estate?
01-09-2006, 08:10 AM
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#10
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,463
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Re: book suggestions on buying rental real estate?
I thought that was Uncle Mick?
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Re: book suggestions on buying rental real estate?
01-09-2006, 09:10 AM
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#11
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Losing my whump
Posts: 22,708
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Re: book suggestions on buying rental real estate?
He's gotta be 15 by now.
__________________
Be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful. Just another form of "buy low, sell high" for those who have trouble with things. This rule is not universal. Do not buy a 1973 Pinto because everyone else is afraid of it.
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Re: book suggestions on buying rental real estate?
01-09-2006, 09:12 AM
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#12
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 761
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Re: book suggestions on buying rental real estate?
Quote:
(2) Landlording by Leigh Robinson (7th edition or later).
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Nords, forgot about that one. Very good book.
Quote:
Do you mind sharing your general real estate strategy during your accumulation phase?
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When we started out the only retirement accounts that were available to us was IRAs and at that time the military didn't have Thrift Saving Plans (tsp) so we made a decision to invest our excess cash in RE back in 1998. The best way to describe our strategy in the accumulation phase (which we are still in) is as follows:
Buy a foreclosed property for $55k (other homes selling for 80k)
Repairs (HVAC, paint, etc.) * * * $2k
Sweat equity * * * * * * * * * * * * *$23k
Rent for * * * * * *$695/ mo
Monthly profit * $245/ mo
Let's say you can find five of these properties in three years (which we did) and your total equity is $115k. Now you can sell (or refinance, or take out a second)and do a 1031 with the proceeds and buy a $1M property with 10% down (your $115k equity) and a seller second or 500k without the seller second. Keeping in mind the main rule you "never pay retail" you should only buy a property with similar problems as long as you get it as a discount. So you buy the $1M property, do repairs, fix the mgt piece, and increase the value just 10% then you've created another $100k in equity for a total of about $200k. Also, your total net income from the property should have atleast tripled with the new purchase compared to your previous holdings.
There are a lot of snags along the way that can trip you up and are just part of learning. HOWEVER, the more you pay below FMV the more mistakes you can make and still come out with a profit and a lesson. If you pay market value you can't make any mistakes or your RE career will come to an abrupt end and your spouse will be pissed. *
Keep in mind these figures don't include realtor fees, closing costs etc. Also, this strategy works better in places that haven't appreciated to a point where value investing is much harder i.e. CA, DC, etc.
Bargains are out there you just have to look for them and be patient. I just saw a property listed for sale that needed repairs and good mgt. It was listed for $1.4M (104 units) and needed about $200k in repairs but after repairs it was worth atleast $2.5M. Someone realized the same thing and bought it already. Time on the market was 7 days before it was bought so someone (not me) will make a pretty penny not including the rental income.
These opportunities come along more often than I can keep up with. This is why I love real estate. 8)
__________________
You take the blue pill - the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill - you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes.
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Re: book suggestions on buying rental real estate?
01-09-2006, 09:36 AM
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#13
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 7,968
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Re: book suggestions on buying rental real estate?
Hey!
I'm a 1000 miles closer to Missoula than I was in LA!
I was a duplex landlord for 15 years - did ok - but not my bag.
There is a lot of visible remodeling going on - old Vic's here in St Jo, MO.
If it's a long winter - may get the itch - even though I know better.
Will try to stick with doughnut shop B.S.ing, stocks and other hobbies.
But ??
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Re: book suggestions on buying rental real estate?
01-09-2006, 11:01 AM
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#14
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Oahu
Posts: 26,855
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Re: book suggestions on buying rental real estate?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sheryl
Nords, you must have a file of previous answers ready to paste - I snipped your response to add to my list of books to read, and found it already there, verbatim.
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Uhm, yep. I get that question a lot, not just on this board.
It's part of my 10-page reading list...
__________________
*
Co-author (with my daughter) of “Raising Your Money-Savvy Family For Next Generation Financial Independence.”
Author of the book written on E-R.org: "The Military Guide to Financial Independence and Retirement."
I don't spend much time here— please send a PM.
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Re: book suggestions on buying rental real estate?
01-09-2006, 01:01 PM
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#15
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: San Diego
Posts: 468
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Re: book suggestions on buying rental real estate?
Remember that the real estate boom mostly involved single family homes on the coasts. Many areas did not appreciate much at all and most multi-family markets were in tough shape because many renters were buying homes. Higher interest rates will actually be a boon to multi-family property values. I agree it's a poor time to buy real estate in CA, NV, south FL, greater NY, greater Boston, DC and some other areas. I think it's a great time to buy in the Rockies, a lot of places in TX and some places in the Southeast.
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Re: book suggestions on buying rental real estate?
01-09-2006, 06:35 PM
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#16
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,463
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Re: book suggestions on buying rental real estate?
Quote:
Originally Posted by califdreamer
Remember that the real estate boom mostly involved single family homes on the coasts.* Many areas did not appreciate much at all and most multi-family markets were in tough shape because many renters were buying homes.* Higher interest rates will actually be a boon to multi-family property values.* I agree it's a poor time to buy real estate in CA, NV, south FL, greater NY, greater Boston, DC and some other areas.* I think it's a great time to buy in the Rockies, a lot of places in TX and some places in the Southeast.*
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Unfortunately (for me) prices in Ohio seem not to have gone up at all in the last 20 years!* My mother's house, which my brother and I inherited is worth about $180,000.* Similar house here in WA would be about $375,000 or more!
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Re: book suggestions on buying rental real estate?
01-13-2006, 08:06 PM
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#17
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Dryer sheet wannabe
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 11
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Re: book suggestions on buying rental real estate?
I just wanted to thank everyone for your suggestions.* This forum is worth it's weight in gold...
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Re: book suggestions on buying rental real estate?
01-26-2006, 06:27 PM
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#18
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,875
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Re: book suggestions on buying rental real estate?
Quote:
Originally Posted by madrone
I just wanted to thank everyone for your suggestions.* This forum is worth it's weight in gold...
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I agree with you on the forum. No book suggestions for you.
I could write a good one...........too lazy. But, here is a story
that may help someone.
When we arrived at the Texas condo, it had been cleaned
(I paid for that) but the tenants were long gone and as usual
owing me money. There was some damage
but their damage deposit had been applied to the back rent.
Anyway, I got a court judgement for $727.00 which usually
is worthless. However, there was a bunch of personal
property missing. I told DW "I think maybe I will call the cops!"
She said, "I think you should." Long story short, a deputy
came out and an hour later the tenant called me wanting to cut
a "deal". See, it was one thing for him to owe me rent money,
but stealing made it a criminal issue, so I had some leverage.
I told DW that we were lucky they were thieves as I was able
to scare the money out of them. So, it all worked out in a perverse kind of way.
JG
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Re: book suggestions on buying rental real estate?
01-26-2006, 06:56 PM
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#19
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 296
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Re: book suggestions on buying rental real estate?
Weekend Millionaires Guide to Real Estate Investing is a straight forward and easy read which covers the basics on investing in rental Real estate. The focus is on making sure the properties you are buy will generate a positive cash flow. It is a get rich slow book. It was very helpful in gaining the confidence we needed to make our first purchase as an investment.
Mr Lanlord's forum is also a great place to look for information
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Re: book suggestions on buying rental real estate?
01-26-2006, 07:47 PM
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#20
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Losing my whump
Posts: 22,708
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Re: book suggestions on buying rental real estate?
Quote:
Originally Posted by MRGALT2U
I could write a good one
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Cute fuzzy bunny wishes you were more motivated! You could roll up all your real estate stories to great benefit for others! Cute and fuzzy bunny even has a title idea "Major mistakes to avoid when working with real estate"!
__________________
Be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful. Just another form of "buy low, sell high" for those who have trouble with things. This rule is not universal. Do not buy a 1973 Pinto because everyone else is afraid of it.
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