What do you think?
Rate this book
Real Estate Investing Gone Bad: 21 true stories of what NOT to do when investing in real estate and flipping houses
Discover 21 true stories of real estate investing deals that went terribly wrong and the lessons you can learn from them. The cost of these "deals gone bad" total millions of dollars in losses, years of unproductive activity and incalculable emotional stress. However, you’ll obtain the enormous benefits of the powerful and profitable learning lessons from these 21 mishaps without the costs! You’re about to gather lifelong, extremely valuable real estate investment and house flipping wisdom that has taken others a lifetime and a fortune to learn. This book is a must read for anyone planning to be or is already a real estate investor because you'll find out what NOT to do in real estate.
132 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 13, 2015
436 people are currently reading
371 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
November 19, 2018
Good read
Some pretty crazy scenarios and situations and it all seems to boil down to - do your homework and don’t be ignorant. Ignorance is no excuse and can cost a lot!
Some pretty crazy scenarios and situations and it all seems to boil down to - do your homework and don’t be ignorant. Ignorance is no excuse and can cost a lot!
August 25, 2022
Summary... Do your homework and don’t be stupid. There are many pitfalls and scammers out there. Make sure you know what you are doing.
November 20, 2024
read this for my real estate law class but it counts 😭 decent intro lessons in real estate field & was easy to read
December 13, 2018
Look at both sides of the coin
This is a really good book that is needed as it does remind us that investments do not guarantee success, there is risk in every type of investment including property. But there are lessons learned at the end of each horror story, many of which are mistakes I would have fallen for. I hope there is a part 2 book sharing more horrors stories.
This is a really good book that is needed as it does remind us that investments do not guarantee success, there is risk in every type of investment including property. But there are lessons learned at the end of each horror story, many of which are mistakes I would have fallen for. I hope there is a part 2 book sharing more horrors stories.
October 25, 2018
I learned a lot from this book. It was a quick and easy read and I learned what not to do. Won't be signing up for the mentor program that they promote in the book, though. From what I've heard from others, it's a waste of money.
November 4, 2018
Learn from Mistakes
A good book, with a few shameless plugs thrown in for the authors services. The lessons here are critical to learn, and there are some real nuggets to digest. A good resource.
A good book, with a few shameless plugs thrown in for the authors services. The lessons here are critical to learn, and there are some real nuggets to digest. A good resource.
August 12, 2020
Super quick and Informative read!
This book is not meant not to discourage you from real estate investing. It was written to let you know that there are also pitfalls and lessons that might be learned the hard way.
I enjoyed that this is the first book that rather than luring you by making it sound like everything is “perfect” in the real estate investing, it brings real life examples of experienced and non experienced real estate investors in different situations that went completely wrong. But not only that, Phil also went on to close each chapter with advice for each situation which are definitely worthy of highlighting for future reference.
The only thing I did not like is that I do believe Phil pushes his apprentice program throughout the book (which I completely understand because that is his business after all). Other than that this is one book I am definitely not deleting from my ebook reader.
This book is not meant not to discourage you from real estate investing. It was written to let you know that there are also pitfalls and lessons that might be learned the hard way.
I enjoyed that this is the first book that rather than luring you by making it sound like everything is “perfect” in the real estate investing, it brings real life examples of experienced and non experienced real estate investors in different situations that went completely wrong. But not only that, Phil also went on to close each chapter with advice for each situation which are definitely worthy of highlighting for future reference.
The only thing I did not like is that I do believe Phil pushes his apprentice program throughout the book (which I completely understand because that is his business after all). Other than that this is one book I am definitely not deleting from my ebook reader.
January 3, 2019
Shattered Dreama
Yes, we all get those Facebook ads of those that made it big in real estate. Or we might know that one real estate agent that drives the Lambo. Like any entrepreneurial endeavor, with high reward comes high risk. This book did a good job retelling stories where real people lost real money. Real estate isn't for everyone. Nor does it guarantee wealth. It is important to balance the successes with failures and to learn from both.
Yes, we all get those Facebook ads of those that made it big in real estate. Or we might know that one real estate agent that drives the Lambo. Like any entrepreneurial endeavor, with high reward comes high risk. This book did a good job retelling stories where real people lost real money. Real estate isn't for everyone. Nor does it guarantee wealth. It is important to balance the successes with failures and to learn from both.
June 27, 2020
Ok material, reads like a bored copy writer
This book does have some decent tips laid out in story form to help get the point home. However, after finishing the book and visiting his website that he plugs throughout it, it seems less that he's truly trying to help people avoid real estate mistakes and more just trying to make a quick buck.
The whole book would be better off as a blog post.
This book does have some decent tips laid out in story form to help get the point home. However, after finishing the book and visiting his website that he plugs throughout it, it seems less that he's truly trying to help people avoid real estate mistakes and more just trying to make a quick buck.
The whole book would be better off as a blog post.
December 12, 2022
Must Read Before Starting Real Estate Investment Journey
Most Real Estate Investment Books only tell you about the good part of investing in Real Estate. This book has some great lessons, that can save not only novice investors, but experience d ones as well. Must read if you are thinking about real estate investing.
Most Real Estate Investment Books only tell you about the good part of investing in Real Estate. This book has some great lessons, that can save not only novice investors, but experience d ones as well. Must read if you are thinking about real estate investing.
July 10, 2025
This book is a compilation of 21 real-life, painful lessons of what can go wrong when investing in real estate. Most lessons are applicable in many countries, but depending on the laws of different countries, the outcomes may be incompatible.
Two lessons in the book remain universal: ‘Get everything in writing’ and ‘Don’t do business with family and friends’.
Two lessons in the book remain universal: ‘Get everything in writing’ and ‘Don’t do business with family and friends’.
June 10, 2018
Razoável
O livro apresenta algumas histórias interessantes de negócios imobiliários que correram mal. A ideia é aprender com os erros dos outros. De leitura fácil e linguagem acessível, no geral é razoável.
O livro apresenta algumas histórias interessantes de negócios imobiliários que correram mal. A ideia é aprender com os erros dos outros. De leitura fácil e linguagem acessível, no geral é razoável.
January 3, 2019
Good lessons
This book contains good lessons and identifies pitfalls that as a beginner, I would have never thought possible. This is a good read for anyone just getting started in RE investing.
This book contains good lessons and identifies pitfalls that as a beginner, I would have never thought possible. This is a good read for anyone just getting started in RE investing.
September 16, 2020
Fast easy read
Very informative, indeed. Each example is real world and I, as a newbie real investor, can actually see myself commiting some of these errors. It’s good to see what other people learned from them in turn helping me not commit those same errors.
Very informative, indeed. Each example is real world and I, as a newbie real investor, can actually see myself commiting some of these errors. It’s good to see what other people learned from them in turn helping me not commit those same errors.
February 24, 2021
Loved it
Almost didn't but this book but it was so cheap on Kindle and I said why not. Saved me a lot of headaches. Also will read over as time goes on. Interesting read and perspective
Almost didn't but this book but it was so cheap on Kindle and I said why not. Saved me a lot of headaches. Also will read over as time goes on. Interesting read and perspective
November 5, 2017
Great book
This is a very good book to scare the crap out of you. It's always better to learn from other people's mistakes. Thanks for the help
This is a very good book to scare the crap out of you. It's always better to learn from other people's mistakes. Thanks for the help
February 24, 2018
I found this book so helpful in learning what NOT to do and what mistakes NOT to make in real estate. I thought it was great.
September 21, 2020
Good stories
Great takeaways from some very hard lessons learned by people over many years of real estate investing. A great resource
Great takeaways from some very hard lessons learned by people over many years of real estate investing. A great resource
September 24, 2020
Learned from others mistakes.
July 19, 2021
A bit childish, but not without valuable lessons.
October 11, 2023
Kind of a fun read of individual antidotes and forewarnings.
February 12, 2024
Great stories/lessons on the dangers of investing in real estate. A wide variety of experiences by varying degrees of expertise. Well written.
June 28, 2016
Sales pitch. You don't need to pay for a mentor to educate yourself in real estate!
October 4, 2018
Meant to sell you other stuff from the author, yet still not completely useless. I wouldn't go as far to say entertaining, but for me it was worth the money ($0.00 in Amazon) and few hours of my time.
April 18, 2017
The book provided good stories with a wide range of real-estate topics and examples of what not to do.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews