Based upon scores of interviews with real estate agents, home builders, mortgage lenders and recent homebuyers, this user-friendly book guarantees a smooth and successful home purchasing experience by demonstrating the mistakes made by others. Each mistake is self-contained and includes a lesson, illustration and, when appropriate, a preventative technique.

A guide for first-time home buyers describes what to look for in a real estate agent, how to choose the best mortgage, how to evaluate a neighborhood, and how to detect hidden costs.

All the information first-time homebuyers need to understand and avoid the 106 common mistakes in purchasing a home or condo . . . Written especially for first-timers, this eye-opening guide turns you into an educated consumer, ensuring that the home or condo you buy is both a comfortable place to live and an investment that steadily appreciates in value. Compiled from the experiences of hundreds of homebuyers, real estate agents, home builders, and mortgage lenders, it alerts you to the 106 common mistakes in home buying, illustrates them in practice, and shows how to prevent them from happening to you. Now revised and expanded, this invaluable resource covers everything from negotiating with sellers and making the down payment to shopping for the best mortgage and handling the closing. Discover how to save time, money, and frustration by avoiding: Mistake No. 20: We thought we could make higher returns investing in stocks. Mistake No. 36: The sellers named the price, we named the terms. Mistake No. 72: We thought our agent represented us. Mistake No. 74: We didn't know we could withdraw our offer. Mistake No. 83: We pushed to get the absolute best deal we could. Mistake No. 105: We didn't buy. We were afraid of making a mistake. Written by one of the nation's leading real estate experts and packed with hundreds of valuable tips and suggestions, The 106 Common Mistakes Homebuyers Make, Second Edition is the book to have for a smooth, successful, and emotionally rewarding homebuying experience.

New safe way to grow wealthIn a volatile stock market, investors need new and safer ways to grow their wealth. Make Money with FixerUppers and Renovations shows investors, including beginners, how to buy at bargain prices and use market analysis techniques and creative improvements to add thousands of dollars to the value of their properties. This stepbystep guide covers all the fundamentals, including how to "fix and flip" properties, evaluate competitive properties, locate great properties at great prices, enhance space, raise cash, and learn about lease options.Gary W. Eldred, PhD (Gainesville, FL) is a realtor who has served on the graduate business faculty at Stanford University and the University of Illinois. He is also the coauthor of Investing in Real Estate, Fourth Edition (047132339X) and author of Yes! You Can Own the Home You Want (0471099783) and The 106 Common Mistakes Homebuyers Make (and How to Avoid Them) (0471126586), all published by Wiley.

One of America’s top real estate authorities explains the inside secrets of the mortgage business Each year, more than ten million American homebuyers, homeowners, and realty investors enter the mortgage arena to finance or refinance their homes and rental properties. And each year, millions of borrowers pay more than they have to. But you won’t be one of them with Gary Eldred’s 106 Mortgage Secrets All Homebuyers Must Learn–But Lenders Don’t Tell. Eldred explains all of your mortgage options and gives you the inside information you need to make the most intelligent money-saving choices. He simplifies the complicated math of mortgage financing and tells you how to make sure your loan rep is being honest with you. He covers every aspect of the mortgage process and highlights the key criteria you should always consider when making your decision. With these 106 secrets, you’ll have the confidence and the knowledge to: Increase your borrowing power Get the lowest interest rate Understand ARMs Cut the cost of mortgage insurance Save big with seller financing, foreclosures, and REOs Perfect your credit profile Avoid getting taken by the fine print Get maximum return on your home investment There’s no reason to get a good mortgage, when you can get the perfect one for you. Simple, concise, and comprehensive, this book covers everything mortgage hunters should know–especially the 106 secrets lenders don’t want to reveal.

Start making money today—with the ultimate guide for first-time investors No matter what the market does, real estate stilloffers plenty of money-making opportunities. In this new edition of The Beginner's Guide to Real Estate Investing, Gary W. Eldred presents the toolsand knowledge new investors need to get started profitably. Packed with smart money-making strategies and real-life stories from successful investors, this edition also covers the latest information on financing, foreclosures, cash flow, and much more. You'll not only master the basics of investing, but also discover specialized techniques that the pros rely on to grow their long-term wealth. Concise yet comprehensive, this practical guide shows you how to: Find great deals on properties with big potential Get started with low- or no-down payment financing Utilize creative financing options and otherpeople's money Buy low-cost foreclosures and REOs Make value-adding improvements to any property Craft winning offers and negotiate like a pro Manage rental properties hassle-free Flip investment properties for fast profit In addition, Eldred shows you how to tailor your investment strategy to make money almost anywhere, in any type of market. With proven techniques, timeless principles, and totally up-to-date information, The Beginner's Guide to Real Estate Investing, Second Edition is the perfect place to start building a prosperous future—today.

In the Make Money series, renowned real estate investor and bestselling author Gary W. Eldred shows you how to profit from the safest, most reliable wealth builder in the world-real estate. With coverage of all the fundamentals-from finding the right properties to financing and managing them-Eldred shows you the ropes so you don't have to learn important lessons the hard way. Unlike general guides to investing in real estate, each title in the Make Money series gives you the specialized expertise necessary to fully profit from a select investment strategy. Make Money with Condominiums and Townhouses shows homebuyers and investors how to travel the road to real estate wealth-often with little or nothing down. As an affordable investment vehicle, condominiums and townhouses offer numerous advantages over other types of rental property-they require relatively little day-to-day management, they tend to attract more desirable tenants than other rental properties, and they offer low risk and high returns. Full of time-tested techniques and proven money-making strategies, Make Money with Condominiums and Townhouses will show you how to: * Relax while you put your money to work * Find properties with high rates of appreciation * Evaluate homeowner association finances * Choose profitable locations * Understand the changing demographics that may affect your investment * Finance your properties with little or no money down * Achieve positive cash flow quickly * Build up equity * Understand by-laws, disclosure statements, and management contracts

"This is the best of the how-to-invest-in-real-estate books currently available." –Robert Bruss, syndicated columnist and real estate author THE BESTSELLING GUIDE TO REAL ESTATE INVESTING Now in its fourth edition, Investing in Real Estate is the straightforward guide that helps you start growing your fortune by investing in houses and small apartment buildings. Successful real estate investors Andrew McLean and Gary Eldred show you how you can outperform the stock market by investing in residential real estate–the surest and safest way to build assets. This new edition offers an expanded discussion of the best methods and techniques for fixing and flipping properties and creating value. You’ ll also find all the information you need to start investing now, as well as up-to-date tips on maintaining cash flow, negotiating deals, spotting market trends, and using the Internet as a research tool to find and buy properties. Let McLean and Eldred show you how to: Buy with little or no money down Minimize taxes while building your wealth Choose neighborhoods and properties that will beat the market with faster rates of appreciation Grow value in your properties by investing in improvements Pick the best way to finance your purchases Whether you need money for your child’s college tuition, a more comfortable retirement, or just a higher standard of living, Investing in Real Estate, Fourth Edition is the only guide you need to start building wealth now.