Book Recommendations for sub2, short sales, and lease options

[AIR]

I am looking for some good book recommendations... not so much a course but a good book that can take you through the process step by step.

[Burke]

I thought "Buy Low, Rent Smart, Sell High" by Scott Frank and Andy Heller gave a pretty good overview of doing lease options.

[Jim FL]

I am looking for some good book recommendations... not so much a course but a good book that can take you through the process step by step.

AIR,
As far as books that mention these methods, there are plenty, many of them free online.

Conti and Finkle used to have a book, not sure if it is still free and available, about lease options.

There are a few out there about short sales as well.

Might even be some about subject to, but frankly, the only 'books' per say, like one sold at amazon, would merely mention these methods, and not really give enough detail to walk you thru them.
At least, I've not found any.

A course on the other hand, by and large, means a book that takes you through the process step by step as you request.

You already know I sell a book/course, so this is not a sales pitch, I'm merely going to use it to illustrate a point, and perhaps give you something to ponder.
My 'course', really is just a book. However, it's a book, that tells you about my favorite method for buying property, and walks you thru step by step.

I did give thought when I wrote it to publishing it, into a 'book' form, and hunting for a publisher and promoter to help get it on places like Amazon etc.
Frankly, it would have made a whole lot more money that way, and probably sold for a little less per unit.
The thing is, after getting into writing it, I felt that I needed to support it, and make it more personal.
It then became a 'course'.
Giving folks info, with no direction is setting them up to be dangerous, to themselves.
I've helped a few folks over the years, unwind messes they created when they tried to use a creative method with no real guidance.


So, let me ask you this, to satisfy my own curiosity more than anything.......why are you seeking a 'book'?
Is it an effort to save a few bucks and try to get info to learn a method to invest?
I hope that doesn't sound offensive, because online 'talk' doesn't always come accross as its meant.

Reason I ask, in the beginning of my investing education, I too sought out info, from the cheapest sources possible.
The thing was, I did find a TON of $10 and $30 'books' to read and learn from.
Glad I did really. I still like to read anything I can get my hands on about REI.
However, the money I spent back then, on several batches of them, could have at the time, been enough to purchase a couple really good comprehensive 'courses'.........which I also purchased along the way, later.

What the 'books' did for me really, was to wet my appetite, and give me a better handle on the vocabulary used by investors. Present day, the web offers plenty of that for FREE.

The best step by step info I found though, was when I finally attended a LARGE seminar/convention, and purchased a couple high priced 'courses'.

Could I personally have learned so much, and gotten the same results I did without those 'courses'?
Maybe, maybe not.

So, before you run out and BUY any info source, use what you can find online, and absorb it.
Then, when a method really tickles your fancy, get a course or book on it.

Of course keep in mind the family here, as many of us have used, and still use TONS of methods for buying property.
Just because I personally teach, and espouse subject to, does not mean this is the only method I use.
It's merely one tool, which admittedly is one I seem to have the most skill using, but merely a tool just the same.

So, whatcha lookin for in a 'book' more specifically?
Step by step in my opinion would mean to give you enough info to go out a use a particular method, and not usually found in a simple book. (There are exceptions of course, jut not many.)

Anyway, my thoughts, would love to hear yours........

Jim FL

[AIR]

Jim,

Thanks for your reply, I am looking for a book not a course. The reason is I am very reluctant to buy a "course." I am NEW to REI so I may be wrong but from what I have experienced so far most courses seem like a rip-off and they tend to be WAY overpriced. My impression of a "course" is basically info you could find from a book but displayed in a different way containing a book, 5 dvd's, a newsletter, two free tickets, 3 magazines, etc... So you are probably right, I am trying to save money... I also feel a little more comfortable buying a book that is published and I can get feedback from people who have read it before. I think courses are good for people who need to be told exactly what to do.

Maybe I am looking for a reference type book if they exist??? If you had to recommend one book on each subject; sub2, short sales, and lease options what would they be?

Thanks!

[StepUp]

My response is from a perspective very similar to yours, from not so long ago. I'm very new to REI. My interest started about 10 months ago, and really kicked into gear about 4 months ago. I have a life in corporate America in insurance. I have a large family, so money is always a consideration.

With that said, I thought a reference book(s) was a good thing for the same reasons. After searching, though, references are just that - no in depth info. I then found Jeff Beubien's site (L2P) and bought his course. From that site, I found this one. From each site, I found more in depth info about the topics I was most interested in, and how to market, run the business, etc, that no reference book could even hope to teach.

The adage of "it takes money to make money" runs true in entrepeneurship (which RE investors are). It's painful when you don't have the money, or easy access to it. I'm preparing to purchase Jim in FL's book on Sub 2, for the very reason of his step by step approach to the business and investing. I don't want to make all the mistakes the experienced people have already made (and likely my competitiors are about to make). If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Even so, no course will tell you every detail or step to take - there's too many to list and discuss. The forums here are for that.

Make the decision to invest in yourself and the experience of others; to make your plunge without falling flat on your face; to blast through "analysis paralysis" (my affliction); I have found it's never a bad time to start investing, but you have to start, and stop talking about it. The investment you make in the courses will pay you back a lot faster than trying to figure it on your own, with a reference book on your lap!

Eric

[KCHomebuyers]

I'd go with anything by Louis Brown - his documentation and contracts are just fantastic. He's got excellent experience in buy/sell/hold, lease options, agreement for deed, trusts, the works. His coursework is very much worth the price due to the sheer amount of documentation, forms and contracts you get.

His are the only systems I've seen where you have a section of forms for buying and a completely different set for selling - even the purchase and sales contracts. They're investor friendly, and they even come with a set pre-filled.

I started with Ron LeGrand's courses, and while they give a good background on REI and the theory is solid, his teaching methods are rough, and so are his documents. The methods also require a lot of adjustment to work well in your particular market (if you aren't in Florida or Arizona). I also got into Jeff Kaller with his short sales course, and again, good theory, but it's old and doesn't really apply to the current foreclosure market.

I've gone through TONs of courses (I have about 16Gb of PDF/audio on my server, 90 folders, 1 folder per "guru", multiple course per folder) and Lou Brown is absolutely top notch - www.louisbrown.com (http://www.louisbrown.com)

[Burke]

Pat,

Any experience with William Tingle out of Georgia?

Thanks!

Burke

[KCHomebuyers]

Hmmm, you asked me about the ONE guru I didn't have in the catalog!

[ZNICK]

I am familiar with Tingle and have seen his stuff. He's VERY fairly priced, both his training programs and his live training, and you won't sit through hours of sales pitches if you go to any of his live stuff. His programs are well written and priced right as well.

It you're just looking for a book, Wendy Patton has a good one for sub-to's and lease options, as does Conti and Finkl and Ron LeGrand.

Keep in mind that although a book is a lot cheaper than a "program", if you make the right choices some programs are invaluable. A book tells you what has to be done and the concepts, while some programs show you "how" to do it, as well as give you contracts, live support, ongoing training and other bonuses.

You may want to check out Ebay for some good programs at reduced prices or join a local REI club and try to borrow some materials. That's what I did when I was new.

What I found was that when I was new (and broke) books were good, as well as websites, but as I grew and I was able to afford a few programs, a couple were critical to my success.

Keep in mind as you grow that continuing your education is very important. I'm not suggesting you run out and spend money to learn the biz, but I am suggesting that if you get referrals and make good decisions about what you want to do in this business, that once you can afford it, training programs and some bootcamps can truly catapult your success.

I've only been to one actual 3-4 day "bootcamp" myself, but have been to many three hour to full day "seminars". Sometimes several of the "full day for $199" things are worth as much or more than a 5 day bootcamp for $4999.00. It all depends on what niche/technique you feel is right for you.

In any case, books are a great way to start... just realize that as you grow you may want to take it a step further. Until your system is in place, I'd suggest taking a certain % of each deal and spending it on your training. It's money well spent!

Z