economics

Buy Low, Rent Smart, Sell High demystifies the whole process and introduces a lucrative and philanthropic way of doing business today. Heller and Frank are really onto something here. I like that Buy Low... combines smart and savvy real estate investing advice while simultaneously improving social inequities. This book has the potential to make a significant impact. As investors look for new ways to obtain wealth and connect to their communities, they will find this book easy to read and exciting to put into practice.

This is a handbook for Real Estate investors. Lots of useful tips and examples and an honest and fair way of doing business.
I found very useful the real life cases and the examples of contracts, letters, and way of working with the lease/purchase model.

in books of this type. These guys supposedly based their business around REO properties. Usually buying from the bank after the foreclosure process for 25% less than market value. They must live in an area with absolutely NO competition. Where I live everybody and their dog is after these types of properties, thus it is impossible to buy these houses for this type of discount. If you can get one it will be a DOG and you had better be ready to pour some money in it to get it sellable.

Another beef is with their numbers. They assume at one point purchasing a house with a mortgage for $67500 say that your PITI(principal, interest, taxes and insurance) will be $500. They then say you can rent this type of house for $1000. Not in my neck of the woods. Be sure to check your local numbers for insurance and taxes and rental rates.

That said, I do like their Rent-to-Own sales plan and the premise that someone renting-to own will take better care of the property than a transient renter would. I also like their breakdown of the six profits centers they look for in each property.

If you are looking for a way to get started in real estate I recommend their plan once you have purchased the property, I just wouldnt limit yourself to just trying to fight for REO houses. There are many opportunities for buying houses for less than market price, just do your homework and don't limit yourself.