Real Estate & Investing

“Fun-to-read…. Deciphers mortgage mumbo-jumbo.” —San Jose Mercury News

“A favorite…. Fun reading and informative.” —Minneapolis Star Tribune

“Objective, down-to-earth…. A book I wish I’d read before purchasing my first lemon-of-a-home.” —Wilmington News Journal

For many of us, the single biggest financial transaction is buying a house. Even more significant than the hefty down payment we fork over is the 15- to 30-year mortgage that needs feeding every month. If you have this much at stake, a little knowledge can go a long way, which is where Eric Tyson and Ray Brown come in. In Mortgages for Dummies, Tyson and Brown (who also wrote Home Buying for Dummies and House Selling for Dummies) provide a comprehensive introduction for anyone who is contemplating a mortgage. The book tells you how to evaluate your creditworthiness, determine your borrowing power, and shop for a lender, as well as covering the various types of loans. The authors also devote a section to refinancing and discuss what you should consider when prepaying a loan. They include amortization and remaining-balance tables, and a useful glossary. Whether you’re a first-time home buyer or are just looking to refinance, you’ll find this a valuable, easy-to-use guide. –Harry C. Edwards –This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Purchasing tax lien instruments from city, county, and municipal governments can provide you with very high and secure rates of return, in some cases as high as 12%, 18%, 24%, or even 1,000% or more per year. If performed correctly, investments in tax lien instruments will far outpace stock market performance, even traditional real estate investments. The key is to know how to perform this process correctly. Tax lien certificates and deeds are not purchased through a broker; you purchase these property tax liens directly from the state or county government (depending on the state). This type of investment was created by state law, and state law protects you as the investor. Investing in tax liens and deeds can be very rewarding.

Tax liens can be tax deferred or even tax-free. You can purchase them in your self-directed IRA. Interest rates vary but average between 4% and 18%. The interest rates are fixed by local governments, essentially a government-guaranteed loan. Additionally, the investment is secured by real property (real estate). This sounds great, but what is the catch? There really is none, except you must know what you are doing! This groundbreaking and exhaustively researched new book will provide everything you need to know to get you started on generating high-investment returns with low risk, from start to finish.

You will learn what property tax liens and tax lien certificates are; how to invest in tax lien certificates; how to buy tax lien certificates; insider secrets to help you double or even triple your investment, how to start with under $1,000; the risks, traps, and pitfalls to avoid; and a detailed directory of states that sell tax lien certificates with contact information. In addition, we spent thousands of hours interviewing, e-mailing, and communicating with hundreds of today’s most successful investors. This book is a compilation of their secrets and proven successful ideas. If you are interested in learning hundreds of hints, tricks, and secrets on how to purchase tax liens and deeds and earn enormous profits, then this book is for you.

Thinking about becoming a landlord? Property Management Kit For Dummies, 2^nd Edition gives you proven strategies for establishing and maintaining rental properties, be they single family or multi-resident. You’ll see how to prepare and promote your properties, select tenants, handle repairs, avoid costly mistakes and legal snafus — and meet your long-term goals. You’ll learn all the basics of the rental housing business — from finding and showing properties and dealing with tenants to record keeping and paying your taxes.

Now you can find out if you really have what it takes to successfully manage rental property and you’ll learn all about the various options for hiring someone else to manage your property for you. You’ll find out the right way to prepare your properties for prospective tenants, set the rent and security deposit, clean up properties, and verify rental applications. In no time at all, you can become a top-notch manager by working efficiently with employees and contractors to keep your properties safe and secure. Find out how to:

• Manage your time and money wisely
• Acquire a property and prepare it for tenants
• Make your property stand out and attract tenants
• Keep good tenants and get rid of bad ones
• Collect and increase rent
• Evaluate the different types of insurance and understand income and property taxes

Complete with lists of ten reasons to become a rental property owner, ten ways to rent your vacancy, and the ten biggest mistakes a landlord can make Property Management Kit For Dummies, 2^nd Edition will help you achieve your dream of being a successful rental property owner.