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Real Estate Investing For Dummies
Make real estate part of your investing strategy
Do you want to get involved in real estate investing, but aren't quite sure where to start? This is your go-to resource for making sense of the subject. Written by industry experts Eric Tyson and Robert Griswold, this new edition of Real Estate Investing For Dummies offers timely, proven, practical, and actionable advice to overcome the challenges of the market and keep yourself one step ahead of the competition.
With the help of this straightforward and time-tested information, you'll get the know-how to wisely and confidently make smart, sound, and informed real estate investing decisions that will reap big rewards. Highlights include:
The Tax Reform and Jobs Act bill that took effect in 2018 The best types of investment properties for different types of investors NNN (triple nets) investments and REITs/TICs Tech applications to support property management operations and accountingA step-by-step primer for preparing to buy, identifying the property, due diligence, closing the transaction, leasing the property and ongoing operations and property management.
There’s no time like the present to jump into the real estate market—as first-time investors or experienced investors who want to brush up on the changes that have occurred in the market.
358 pages, Paperback
Published December 15, 2004
314 people are currently reading
1475 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
July 10, 2009
Why I Read this Book: The more I read about financial success and passive income, the more I hear about real estate. As I was starting to think about making my first real estate investment I realized it was a subject in which I was never formally educated. This provided me with a great foundation.
Review:
One thing that just about every one of us can be sure of in our lives is that we are going to be dealing with real estate in one way or another. For most of us I hope this means we will be acquiring real estate assets, and with all of financing options available today, real estate ownership can be realized by almost anyone. Even if you never do buy a piece of real estate, you will still have to deal with landlords and real estate laws. So the interesting thing about this book is that at first glance it looks as if it is only for real estate investors/future owners but it is just as advantageous for future renters to read to learn about all the tips and tricks of landlords, properties and the like.
With that said, how many of us grew up with an education in real estate? I am willing to bet that the answer is very few since it is not something currently mandatory in our education system. At the very least, everyone who makes it through high school or college should be granted the basic fundamentals of real estate and property ownership. That of course is a whole different topic. My point is that the knowledge contained in this book can serve each and every reader in some way.
For those of you who are not familiar with the “For Dummies” brand, these books put a bit of a fun spin on your ordinary text book while staying quite clear and concise in their teachings. They also serve as great reference material. I am sure you will see a few more reviews from me on this brand of books in the future.
Real Estate Investing for Dummies covers the whole gamut of topics and information. Topics include raising money, understanding real estate, finding properties, deciding between property types, operating the property, financing options, selecting and working with a broker, dealing with and selecting tenants and tax implications. There is even a sample purchase agreement included in the back.
The odds are that any topic of interest that’s related to real estate will be covered at least in brief but most likely in depth. You may find that your broker, assuming you have chosen a knowledgeable one, will be up to speed with many of these topics and will be wiling to provide you with much more in depth information on the most important topics of your proposed investment. It is of course always smart and prudent to come into a broker relationship with a strong foundation of knowledge from which to build. Real Estate Investing for Dummies gives you that base.
One of the most valuable sections I found in this book was More Than 10 Ways To Increase a Property’s Return. The title is perfectly descriptive. Many of the points appear to be “common sense” but we know how rarely that is actually practiced. Some not so obvious points include developing a market niche, refinancing and adding value through change in use.
Historically real estate investing has been one of the most lucrative investments of all time. There are many benefits to real estate as an investment that you will not find else where, and of course there are the negatives too. Take action by starting your real estate education today. There is no downside to understanding the industry and the odds are that it will have great implications on your future net worth. As you read more about investing and investment vehicles, your interest will likely begin to perk. This is especially true if you read some of the books from Robert Kyosaki’s school of thought. You may find after reading and learning about real estate, that it is the last place you would like to put your money from an investment stand point. If that is all you get out of this book then great. That too may be one of your more valuable lifetime financial learnings. The important thing is to expand your knowledge on this topic to allow yourself to make more accurate decisions toward your financial success in the future. This read is your way of taking action today to get closer to that goal.
-Reading for Your Success
Review:
One thing that just about every one of us can be sure of in our lives is that we are going to be dealing with real estate in one way or another. For most of us I hope this means we will be acquiring real estate assets, and with all of financing options available today, real estate ownership can be realized by almost anyone. Even if you never do buy a piece of real estate, you will still have to deal with landlords and real estate laws. So the interesting thing about this book is that at first glance it looks as if it is only for real estate investors/future owners but it is just as advantageous for future renters to read to learn about all the tips and tricks of landlords, properties and the like.
With that said, how many of us grew up with an education in real estate? I am willing to bet that the answer is very few since it is not something currently mandatory in our education system. At the very least, everyone who makes it through high school or college should be granted the basic fundamentals of real estate and property ownership. That of course is a whole different topic. My point is that the knowledge contained in this book can serve each and every reader in some way.
For those of you who are not familiar with the “For Dummies” brand, these books put a bit of a fun spin on your ordinary text book while staying quite clear and concise in their teachings. They also serve as great reference material. I am sure you will see a few more reviews from me on this brand of books in the future.
Real Estate Investing for Dummies covers the whole gamut of topics and information. Topics include raising money, understanding real estate, finding properties, deciding between property types, operating the property, financing options, selecting and working with a broker, dealing with and selecting tenants and tax implications. There is even a sample purchase agreement included in the back.
The odds are that any topic of interest that’s related to real estate will be covered at least in brief but most likely in depth. You may find that your broker, assuming you have chosen a knowledgeable one, will be up to speed with many of these topics and will be wiling to provide you with much more in depth information on the most important topics of your proposed investment. It is of course always smart and prudent to come into a broker relationship with a strong foundation of knowledge from which to build. Real Estate Investing for Dummies gives you that base.
One of the most valuable sections I found in this book was More Than 10 Ways To Increase a Property’s Return. The title is perfectly descriptive. Many of the points appear to be “common sense” but we know how rarely that is actually practiced. Some not so obvious points include developing a market niche, refinancing and adding value through change in use.
Historically real estate investing has been one of the most lucrative investments of all time. There are many benefits to real estate as an investment that you will not find else where, and of course there are the negatives too. Take action by starting your real estate education today. There is no downside to understanding the industry and the odds are that it will have great implications on your future net worth. As you read more about investing and investment vehicles, your interest will likely begin to perk. This is especially true if you read some of the books from Robert Kyosaki’s school of thought. You may find after reading and learning about real estate, that it is the last place you would like to put your money from an investment stand point. If that is all you get out of this book then great. That too may be one of your more valuable lifetime financial learnings. The important thing is to expand your knowledge on this topic to allow yourself to make more accurate decisions toward your financial success in the future. This read is your way of taking action today to get closer to that goal.
-Reading for Your Success
March 16, 2017
Purchase the buildings occupied by their own businesses and essentially pay the rent to yourself. If you own a business that rents, do yourself a favor become your own landlord! Under current tax law, you can pocket substantial tax free profits when you sell your home for more than you paid plus the money you sunk into improvements during ownerships. Single tax-payer up to 250k tax free capital gain; married couples filing jointly is 500k - you must occupy this property for 24 months out of the past 60 months. Remember to check out old properties - plumbing, electrical systems, poor soundproofing as a host of economic and concessional obsolescence. In condos, you must review the governing documents before you purchase the property to see exact what you legally own. Mortgage lenders usually require a much higher down payment and charge higher loan fees and interest rates on loans to buy land bc they see it as a more speculative investment.
July 28, 2010
I didn't fully read or even go through this book, which makes sense since it is really sort of a reference book. I got it from the library and probably won't look at it any more for now. This is why I only gave it 4 stars (instead of 5)...because I won't read it super thoroughly at this point.
What I liked about it is the organization and ease of use, that this whole series really has going for it. I had also used a Dummies book by one of these authors when we bought our house. This book helped me realize, within the first few chapters that buying investment real estate is not the right thing for me right now. And, wow...my husband really loves this book now, too...since he wasn't so hot on the idea to begin with.
What I liked about it is the organization and ease of use, that this whole series really has going for it. I had also used a Dummies book by one of these authors when we bought our house. This book helped me realize, within the first few chapters that buying investment real estate is not the right thing for me right now. And, wow...my husband really loves this book now, too...since he wasn't so hot on the idea to begin with.
June 21, 2025
2025-06-21:
the fact they talk about reits, show they are just influences who dumped here anything that google listed when they searched for keywords.
talking about ”tax optimization” shows these are traps, and most advice will turn out a money pit without those ”tricks”.
in general, talking about the law proves the advice is bad, as the law might change even before the volume is published.
given the many pages about law and tax, it shows this is a scam, as one of the penguins is a ”personal finance” bureaucrat, and the other is a used house salesman. neither knows the law, and both are members of guilds that give advice on how ”this is not legal advice, for legal advice you should consult a lawyer”.
given the text is not localized: 3 counties in southern texas, but applies to many states, just shows the book is a bait and switch: the first part applies in one state, and the second is legal in another state.
the fact they talk about reits, show they are just influences who dumped here anything that google listed when they searched for keywords.
talking about ”tax optimization” shows these are traps, and most advice will turn out a money pit without those ”tricks”.
in general, talking about the law proves the advice is bad, as the law might change even before the volume is published.
given the many pages about law and tax, it shows this is a scam, as one of the penguins is a ”personal finance” bureaucrat, and the other is a used house salesman. neither knows the law, and both are members of guilds that give advice on how ”this is not legal advice, for legal advice you should consult a lawyer”.
given the text is not localized: 3 counties in southern texas, but applies to many states, just shows the book is a bait and switch: the first part applies in one state, and the second is legal in another state.
June 26, 2021
5/5 stars, because despite making a rather dull topic extremely entertaining and fun... this book highlighted how not ready I am to jump into real estate investing. Big takeaway from this book - I am not in a place right now to pursue this path.
Single, no kids, and an excessive amounts of free time? Or, very large savings with high volume of expendable funds and high risk tolerance?
Yeah, I am probably the opposite across the board. I have two young children 2 and newborn, I am pursuing my Masters Degree while working full time, my risk tolerance is pretty low because of my family and honestly being real with myself and recognizing my personality/character traits, and finally I don't have the savings amount recommended by the author of 20k of expendable income per 100k of home/rental you are trying to invest in (example, a 500k invest property ... you need 125k MINIMUM to take this leap, per the author).
Super informative and not trying to sell you a stack of DVD's or a ticket to their thousand dollar seminar.
I was highly considering going down this path, but very thankful that this book put me in my place.
Single, no kids, and an excessive amounts of free time? Or, very large savings with high volume of expendable funds and high risk tolerance?
Yeah, I am probably the opposite across the board. I have two young children 2 and newborn, I am pursuing my Masters Degree while working full time, my risk tolerance is pretty low because of my family and honestly being real with myself and recognizing my personality/character traits, and finally I don't have the savings amount recommended by the author of 20k of expendable income per 100k of home/rental you are trying to invest in (example, a 500k invest property ... you need 125k MINIMUM to take this leap, per the author).
Super informative and not trying to sell you a stack of DVD's or a ticket to their thousand dollar seminar.
I was highly considering going down this path, but very thankful that this book put me in my place.
February 14, 2024
"Real Estate Investing For Dummies" is a valuable resource for individuals looking to grasp the basics of real estate investing. It offers a comprehensive overview of the subject matter, making it an excellent starting point for beginners.
While the book covers a wide range of topics related to real estate investing, some readers may find it a bit lengthy. However, despite its length, the book offers valuable insights and information that make it worth reading.
While the book covers a wide range of topics related to real estate investing, some readers may find it a bit lengthy. However, despite its length, the book offers valuable insights and information that make it worth reading.
November 15, 2024
This is a great resource for a novice investor. It includes an easy to understand overview to build a solid foundation to enter the world of real estate investing.
June 18, 2025
2.5/5 I don’t even remember it tbh
January 13, 2021
(Note: this review is for the 2019 version)
Oof. Fourteen hours of reading and I am supposedly more knowledgeable about real estate investing. During the tax chapter, I asked my friend Michael why he was an accountant. He said he didn’t know.
I‘ve always thought the For Dummies series was an underrated way to learn things—Mormonism and Adopting Retired Greyhounds for Dummies (respectively) were fantastic. But there’s no free lunch. What I didn’t pay for in learning materials, I paid for in pain as my brain cried out against the escrow period, the due diligence, and the many,
many sources of insurance claims.
Oof. Fourteen hours of reading and I am supposedly more knowledgeable about real estate investing. During the tax chapter, I asked my friend Michael why he was an accountant. He said he didn’t know.
I‘ve always thought the For Dummies series was an underrated way to learn things—Mormonism and Adopting Retired Greyhounds for Dummies (respectively) were fantastic. But there’s no free lunch. What I didn’t pay for in learning materials, I paid for in pain as my brain cried out against the escrow period, the due diligence, and the many,
many sources of insurance claims.
June 14, 2013
I read this book front to back. I was enjoying the reading, but felt that it was slapping you with reality check. The author tells you to forget those "No Money Down" deals because it won't happen, if it does..rarely. It was pretty much putting down the Real Estate Gurus out there.
I will be using this for a reference like a textbook. Whenever I need to lookup something. I can always refer back to it.
This book is an information educational book. It isn't like the other real estate books that are motivational and tells you what are the possibilities if one technique doesn't work.
I will be using this for a reference like a textbook. Whenever I need to lookup something. I can always refer back to it.
This book is an information educational book. It isn't like the other real estate books that are motivational and tells you what are the possibilities if one technique doesn't work.
September 1, 2019
I’d never read a For Dummies book cover to cover before, but I wasn’t expecting something so comprehensive. This covers basically all real estate investing strategies, from REITs to 1031 exchanges to buying net leases. I read this to learn more about the business side of real estate (I’m familiar with the legal side, being a real estate lawyer), and I was happy to see the authors took a practical, realistic approach rather than a “get-rich-quick” approach. Also felt that they gave good advice re when to bring in lawyers and accountants. Two thumbs up.
March 27, 2014
There are so many books on Real Estate Investing that I didn't know where to go for good information. Saw this had good reviews on Amazon and got it. The two authors do a great job breaking down what you need to know and the methodology of finding the right property for you. Good read and can be read in a week. Helpful tables and spreadsheets to assist you in going forward. I thought it was helpful.
October 29, 2016
Great introduction to real estate investing -- not too complicated, but still thorough enough. Comparable with a good textbook. Like night and day in comparison to many simplified black'n'white mainstream 'get-rich-quick' books and 'investing gurus'. In contrast, the authors of this book define their method or strategy as 'get-rich-right' and use many healthy perspectives in their approach. Highly recommended!
March 21, 2007
I found the basics about real estate investing to be really useful and pratical. The first Dummies series book I've ever bought and I was impressed. I applied some of the advice when I bought a house and was considering buying a two-unit. It helped me realize that I was OK with roommates/tenants but I didn't want the responsibility at this point in my life of being a landlord.
November 23, 2016
Great book!
The book really gives a very comprehensive understanding to one who is embarking on the journey towards real-estate investment. However, the later chapters start to get a little too lengthy and it'd be great if more concepts, especially calculations, were illustrated with real-time examples instead.
The book really gives a very comprehensive understanding to one who is embarking on the journey towards real-estate investment. However, the later chapters start to get a little too lengthy and it'd be great if more concepts, especially calculations, were illustrated with real-time examples instead.
March 20, 2022
Very good book, it emphasize on three areas
1.Funding (how to get money, this is very basic problem of property as this very expensive)
2.Valuation (this is basically the core of this book, in my opinion, jargon like location, location, location)
3.Operation (Landlord, Risk, Accounting, Tax)
1.Funding (how to get money, this is very basic problem of property as this very expensive)
2.Valuation (this is basically the core of this book, in my opinion, jargon like location, location, location)
3.Operation (Landlord, Risk, Accounting, Tax)
June 5, 2008
i'll refer to it from time to time.
November 9, 2011
Extremely dry and dull and demotivating. I had an Evil Plan(TM) for which this book would have been useful, but I decided not to do it. So I stopped reading.
December 3, 2012
This was just not as helpful as I'd hoped it would be.
April 25, 2015
great resource for anyone who wants to rent. Found it to be a useful read.
July 4, 2016
Good book for what it is - a crash course on real estate investing. If you're trying to learn the basic, it's worth picking up. You'll definitely need to pursue further reading afterwards, however.
November 4, 2018
Very informative and a good read.
June 1, 2019
This is another Dummies guide...covers the basics. A lot of it is the obvious stuff that you would expect but it is organized and written well.
January 31, 2021
Super practical and action-oriented material. Easy to read and reference.
November 9, 2022
A somewhat comprehensive guide to real estate investing.
October 29, 2022
Dumb band but pretty much the Bible. Covers every aspect.
May 1, 2025
Easy to understand, comprehensive, practical, introductory level.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews