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Investing in Duplexes, Triplexes, and Quads: The Fastest and Safest Way to Real Estate Wealth

Average customer rating:

Investing in Duplexes, Triplexes and Quads
Very well written and informative
I was expecting much more
Motivation
Real estate investing that everyone can understand.

Investing in Duplexes, Triplexes, and Quads: The Fastest and Safest Way to Real Estate Wealth
Larry B. Loftis
Manufacturer: Kaplan Business
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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2 Years to a Million in Real Estate
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ASIN: 1419537253
Release Date: 2006-05-01

Book Description

Amass more than $900,000 in properties in one year, without using any of your own money, or that of your investors.

Real estate investing can be an excellent way to build wealth. With its advantages of cash flow, appreciation, tax benefits, equity buildup and leveraging, real estate may be the only vehicle that can carry the average person to retirement wealth.

Real estate investor, attorney, and author Larry Loftis has developed a safe, easy, and lucrative way for new investors to get into the game, and for experienced ones to enhance their portfolios. In Investing in Duplexes, Triplexes and Quads: The Fastest and Safest Way to Real Estate Wealth, he draws on both his real estate investing experience and legal acumen to explore advantages you may not have considered about residential multifamily properties of two to four units.

Learn how to:

•Buy duplexes, triplexes and quads with no money down, AND get cash back at closing.

•Eliminate risk, and guarantee that your mortgage payments are always covered.

•Use ""cash-out"" from refinancing to purchase more properties.

•Decide whether to buy and hold or ""pyramid"" to a large apartment complex.

•Use inflation, tax laws, and rehab to build a massive retirement nest-egg.

Customer Reviews:

Investing in Duplexes, Triplexes and Quads.......2007-06-27

This book is well written. It is an easy read and gives you the how to steps. If you are a first time real estate investor I highly recommend this book by Mr. Loftis. He brings years of experience and practicale knowledge to the game. With this book I was able to launch myself into the real estate investor game with all the fundamental knowledge necessary to be successful. I will be closing on my first quad in July/2007.

Very well written and informative.......2007-06-07

I was so pleasantly surprised when I read this book. I could not put it down and finished it on a short plane ride. The book is very honestly written to include mistakes made and learned from. There were actual scenarios that the author went through and a lot of information that is worth its weight in gold. I have been disappointed in the past with books that don't deliver. This one is a keeper.

I was expecting much more.......2007-06-04

I was disappointed in this book. I read the author's book on tax liens, which I thought was very good, and was expecting more. Maybe I should reread the tax lien book and reevaluate it.

While I've sold hundreds of properties of all stripes, my knowledge of investing in 1-4 families is minimal and I wanted to learn more. The author believes that quad-plexes are the best real estate investment and gives his reasons. The author believes in the buy and hold approach. He downplays the work involved in property management. I'm a believer that investors make their own best property manager, however most investors have neither the time or interest in managing their own properties. It's best if you are retired or otherwise don't have a day job.

The subject book was written with the unsophisticated read in mind yet is pretty detailed. I suspect that he loses a lot of unsophisticated investors. That said I did learn a little, but would read several more books on investing in 1-4 families before actually doing it.

The book has some value and you should read it along with many others if you are interested in investing in 1-4 families, but I wouldn't recommend buying it.

Motivation.......2007-05-31

This book is a good read, whether or not some of his things he has done will work every time or work for you. It does give a good oversite on real estate investing is all about. His basic idea is great, and it really inspires to get something started. Since i've read this book I have almost have a 5 plex in my pocket. Listen to this book and listen well.

Real estate investing that everyone can understand........2007-05-21

Friends, I was concerned (somewhat :-) when I saw the Esq. after the author's name. I was expecting that the writing would be a little hard to understand (read too complex). But my fears were unfounded. Larry Loftis has written a book on a complex subject but has written it so that anyone can understand.

This book is logically divided into four parts:
1. To begin, Larry builds the case for real estate investment.
2. In the middle, he covers both the buying and the holding and selling processes.
3. To end, Larry summarizes and reiterates everything previously covered but shapes it into a comprehensive wealth-building plan which can be modified for each reader's specific circumstances.

The book focuses on multi-family residential properties but seems to me a good part of the logic translates to most any real estate property.

I don't think Larry set out to write a motivational book on real estate investing as much as an informational one; but, he so thoroughly lays out the "whats" and "what fors" that this reader got excited about the possibilities. Read this book and I dare you not to get excited too!

Average customer rating:

hilarious
A very enjoyable read
A gentle and humorous look at life from many angles
wonderful audio book
Tales of the Scotland City

44 Scotland Street
Alexander Mccall Smith
Manufacturer: Anchor
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Espresso Tales
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ASIN: 1400079446
Release Date: 2005-06-14

Book Description

Welcome to 44 Scotland Street, home to some of Edinburgh's most colorful characters. There's Pat, a twenty-year-old who has recently moved into a flat with Bruce, an athletic young man with a keen awareness of his own appearance. Their neighbor, Domenica, is an eccentric and insightful widow. In the flat below are Irene and her appealing son Bertie, who is the victim of his mother’s desire for him to learn the saxophone and italian–all at the tender age of five.

Love triangles, a lost painting, intriguing new friends, and an encounter with a famous Scottish crime writer are just a few of the ingredients that add to this delightful and witty portrait of Edinburgh society, which was first published as a serial in The Scotsman newspaper.

Customer Reviews:

hilarious.......2007-05-21

This book is absolutely hilarious. The characters, while apparently quintessentially Scottish, are easily relatable to anyone of any nationality in that you sit there and think, "I know someone exactly like that!" You do not have to be from Edinburgh to find this book laugh-out-loud funny. True, there is not much of a resolution at the end, but this book is one of the few instances where the writing is the point, not the plot (which is enjoyable on its own anyway). I can't wait to read the sequel.

A very enjoyable read.......2007-02-22

I really liked this book. It was a joy to read. The characters are interesting and unpredictable. Also, it's been a while since I've laughed out loud while reading a book, but I did so with this one.

A gentle and humorous look at life from many angles.......2007-02-20

Alexander McCall Smith has the rare talent of being able to see people as they see themselves. This ensemble book introduces us to many different characters, from a young woman searching for meaning in a life that seems out of control to an accidental philosopher to the hapless head of the Edinburgh Conservative party. Some are deep and interesting characters, others are simple and shallow. But whoever they are, when Smith describes their thoughts and actions even the characters who in the hands of another author would be contemptible are shown to be victims of their own foibles and outlook. That doesn't mean that there are no bad guys; Anyone who has known a lunkhead jock or over-ambitious mother will immediately recognize Bruce and Irene. But no one is a villain in their own mind, and the beauty of these books is that you can almost identify with everyone in them. Almost. Not quite though.

"44 Scotland Street" was actually written as a newspaper serial, something that I haven't personally run into before. It was published in "The Scotsman" in Edinburgh in daily increments, and in the preface Smith points out that one consequence was that once a chapter was written, it could never be revised - it had been published and read already! He also points out that by publishing daily each chapter had to have a point of action, and to give the impression that more events were in the offing. Perhaps it's just my personal preference, but the pace that this forced was very enjoyable. It's not a novel with a cliffhanger at the end of every chapter, but it is a book where something happens every chapter.

Smith seems to have enjoyed the experience enough to continue the stories in a second serial, which has now been collected together into "Espresso Tales". I for one definitely plan to buy it.

wonderful audio book.......2007-02-14

My family (ages 10, 14, 40+) listened to this series with great interest. The intertwined plots and cliff hanger style was great fun in the car and when performing chores. We can't wait for the third book.

Tales of the Scotland City.......2007-02-11

Taking a cue from Armistead Maupin's, "Tales of the City", Alexander McCall Smith has written a charming, witty, and oftentimes very insider portrait of a small group of inhabitants at 44 Scotland Place. Like Maupin, Smith cobbles together a little over a half dozen characters and sets them free to interact. A departure from his excellent Detective Ladies series, it never quite reached the level of those books to me, however it has enough of it's own charm and wit to easily recommend it.

The Complete Guide to Buying and Selling Apartment Buildings

Average customer rating:

A Great Introductory Investment Real Estate Overview
Great Read, Extremely Valuable.
If you don't yet know how you want to invest.....
Well written guide
4.5 stars for another good book by Steve Berges

The Complete Guide to Buying and Selling Apartment Buildings
Steve Berges
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Complete Guide to Real Estate Finance for Investment Properties: How to Analyze Any Single-Family, Multifamily, or Commercial Property
What Every Real Estate Investor Needs to Know about Cash Flow... And 36 Other Key Financial Measures
Investing in Duplexes, Triplexes, and Quads: The Fastest and Safest Way to Real Estate Wealth
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ASIN: 0471684058

Book Description

Whether youre a first-time real estate investor or a seasoned professional, The Complete Guide to Buying and Selling Apartment Buildings helps you map out your future, find apartment buildings at a fair price, finance purchases, and manage your properties. Now revised and expanded, this Second Edition includes tax planning advice, case studies of real acquisitions, and appendixes that add detail to the big picture. Plus, it includes a handy glossary of all the terms investors need to know, helpful sample forms that make paperwork quick and easy, and updated real estate forecasts. With this comprehensive guide at hand youll find profits easy to come by.

Download Description

Whether you¿re a first-time real estate investor or a seasoned professional, The Complete Guide to Buying and Selling Apartment Buildings helps you map out your future, find apartment buildings at a fair price, finance purchases, and manage your properties. Now revised and expanded, this Second Edition includes tax planning advice, case studies of real acquisitions, and appendixes that add detail to the big picture. Plus, it includes a handy glossary of all the terms investors need to know, helpful sample forms that make paperwork quick and easy, and updated real estate forecasts. With this comprehensive guide at hand you¿ll find profits easy to come by.

Customer Reviews:

A Great Introductory Investment Real Estate Overview.......2007-05-16

I've read several realestate investment books and this is the most comprehensive. It covers all aspects of finding, negotiating, financing and managing apartment building investments. Additional reading and investigation will still be required; however this is a great place to begin.

Great Read, Extremely Valuable........2007-04-22

With all the hype out there in the real estate investing space, it's refreshing to read a book that is honest, intellectual, and driven by a solid foundation in financial analysis.

Steve Berges does an outstanding job of walking the reader through general concepts, straight-forward examples, and detailed case studies. The financial analysis might be a little overwhelming to someone who is being introduced to so many financial concepts for the first time. If you don't have an understanding of finance, I'd recommend hitting Google or a Finance textbook to help get through the financial sections.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and thought it was packed full of valuable tips and information. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in adding apartment buildings to their real estate repertoire.

If you don't yet know how you want to invest............2007-04-11

...this is an excellent read. I had never given apartments a thought until reading Steve Berges. Now they are in the mix. The charts in Chapter 8 are a bit tedious, especially to a beginner, but by the time you get to the end of the book, you will know if buying and selling (or keeping) apartments is for you. Pay attention to what Berges says about the value play (Chapter4).

Well written guide.......2006-08-20

This book is a concise well written guide to the core issues of buying, owning and selling multifamily buildings. It was extremely valuable in evaluating our first purchase of a multi-family structure.

4.5 stars for another good book by Steve Berges.......2006-08-17

As a real estate investor and author myself, I read a lot of real estate books. Many, if not most, are written by folks who do not invest in real estate themselves; they only write about it. Berges is not one of them. He knows his stuff and it's clear that he practices what he preaches. I have read three of his books and, I must say, he's one of my favorite real estate authors. You can trust what he says. Experienced investors may want a bit more detail from Steve, but what he does say is accurate and safe. This is a good book on buying apartments. In fact, in my own book, "Investing in Duplexes, Triplexes & Quads," I list the best books I've read on different areas of real estate. This book is the ONLY book I recommend on investing in commercial multifamily (ie, apartments of 5 units and up) properties.

Having given those accolades, here are a few of my constructive criticisms:

1. On pages 37 and 38, Steve gives nice charts illustrating the long-term financial benefits of investing in multifamily properties. On page 39, however, there is an error in referring to the big numbers shown. The reference is made to Investor A's "equity" of $2.1 million and Investor B's (the multifamily property investor) equity of $92 million. I just don't think Steve caught this, but those numbers don't refer to the investor's equity, but to the fair market value of his collective assets (his properties). The investor's equity might be in the range of 20% of that. I do like the charts, however, and I used a similar analysis in my recent book. One other note on the charts - they presume selling and buying exactly at the end of one year - a difficult task as Steve would surely admit. On average, I think 18 months to two years is a better time frame for flipping apartments.

2. Refinancing - Steve didn't give a chart showing the long-range effect of the "buy, hold and refy" strategy (using proceeds to buy again, but retaining the first property). In addition, Steve only mentioned the general banking guideline that you can only pull out cash up to 80% of the new appraised value (i.e., the bank has an LTV of 80%). However, you can get around this. I've done it. It requires a second lender giving a second mortgage, with a CLTV (combined loan to value) of up to 90%. As such, you can pull out much more cash.

3. GRM - gross rent multiplier. In his financial analysis section, Steve doesn't give much detail or provide real life examples on this crucial analysis factor. Granted, the cap rate is the analysis primarily used for commercial real estate, while the GRM is the one used for residential multifamily (2-4 units) real estate. Since many owners and selling brokers will "fudge" on expenses, a cap rate can be very hard to verify. The GRM, however, is fairly simple - just look at the lease agreements.

4. Lack of coverage on residential multifamily apartments. In fact, this is why I wrote my book on this topic. If Steve had covered it here, I would not have written mine. I like Steve's writing style and he knows his stuff. But for investing in small multifamily properties (certainly on residential, but probably up to about 10 units), we really have to cover valuation and selection of properties using the GRM. That and I felt like the "buy, hold, and refy" strategy needed much more coverage.

But for investing in commercial multifamily properties, I recommend this book as the only good one on the market.

Larry Loftis
Author: Investing in Duplexes, Triplexes and Quads: The Fastest and Safest Way to Real Estate Wealth

Prefabulous: The House of Your Dreams Delivered Fresh from the Factory

Average customer rating:

FAB
Prefabulous is Fab! Mark Nash Real Estate Author, Columnist & Writer
Excellent Guidebook
Useful and EyeOpening if You are Building/Adding to A Home
Who Knew There Were So Many Options?

Prefabulous: The House of Your Dreams Delivered Fresh from the Factory
Sheri Koones
Manufacturer: Taunton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Grissim Buyer's Guide to Manufactured Homes & Land: How to Find a Reputable Dealer and Negotiate a Fair Price on the Best-Kept Secret in American Housing
Prefab Modern

ASIN: 156158844X
Release Date: 2007-03-06

Book Description

This is the only book that gives homeowners who are dreaming about building or planning to build a new home the good and the bad on all types of prefabricated houses. Shows that prefabricated can be mainstream traditional design and does not have to look like a mobile home or a modular "Dwell" box.

Prefabulous describes the many systems available for prefabricating all or parts of a new home, including timber frame and log, as well as modular, panelized, structural insulated panels, steel framing and concrete systems, which are relatively new. Prefabulous describes these systems, compares their advantages and disadvantages, and shows beautiful examples of houses built using these techniques. Although all of these "prefabricated" houses look very different, all of them were manufactured partially or almost completely in a controlled factory environment and transported to the home site to be erected. As a group these systems offer a faster, more energy-efficient, and sometimes more cost-efficient method of building.

Includes a foreword by Not So Big House author Sarah Susanka, who writes: "For homeowners who want to know the options, the advantages and disadvantages of those options, and to see how those prefabricated parts come together into a good, attractive home, read this book."

Customer Reviews:

FAB.......2007-06-08

This book is very helpful in learning about the different choices you have for building. Worth buying if you are looking for something besides standard stick built house.

Prefabulous is Fab! Mark Nash Real Estate Author, Columnist & Writer.......2007-04-20

Sheri Koones latest book Prefabulous follows on the heels of her three previous shelter books, all considered home runs by those who are in the residential housing industry. Prefabricated homes of today offer features and benefits that place them on equal footing with stick or site built homes. Koones in her thorough and leave no stone unturned style, explores the options in rich from-the-trenches writing detail, coupled with relative photography.

Prefabulous should be required reading for architecture students as it highlights an important coming trend in North American residential housing. Prefabricated homes are being embraced by builders, developers and designers coast-to-coast as starter, custom, primary and secondary residences. Before you sign a site-built new construction contract, read this book and you will discover an option that can dramatically decrease delays, expenses, stress, time and waste in building your dream home.

Chapters cover: Modular, Panelized, Structural Insulated Panels, Timber Frame, Log Construction, Concrete and Steel. Additional features include a forward, an introduction, and a resource appendix. A must-have guide for prospective new-construction homeowners, manufacturers in the factory-built construction industry and those looking for a "green" alternative to site-built housing.

Excellent Guidebook.......2007-04-12

If you think the only way to construct a truly elegant home is by building it the old fashioned way, you are in for a pleasant surprise. In Prefabulous, Koones shows readers that prefabricated houses have come a long way, and are in fact, a much better way to build. Complete with detailed resources regarding architects, manufacturers and builders on each of the homes profiled, Prefabulous is an excellent guidebook. Filled with magnificent photographs, detailed sidebars, and helpful information throughout, Prefabulous will help homeowners understand the many choices available for systems built homes.

Useful and EyeOpening if You are Building/Adding to A Home.......2007-03-17

I always assumed that prefabricated and modular construction were ugly and cheap, but Sheri Koones's Prefabulous has changed my mind entirely. Prefabricated and modular home construction methods have grown up and gone elegant and Koones has produced a detailed book with lavish photographs that will make many homeowners eager to explore these options. It is truly difficult to believe that the homes pictured were not built conventionally.

Prefabulous is more than just a pretty face. Koones is a leading home construction expert who has written several books on residential building and modular design and Prefabulous is in keeping with the detail and insightfulness of her previous work.

Reading Prefabulous is well worth your while if you are building a new home or adding to an existing one, because prefabricated, modular and similar construction methods are typically more cost-effective than conventional techniques. But don't take my word for it-- consumer real estate expert Robert Bruss has rated Prefabulous as 12 stars on a 10 star scale.

Who Knew There Were So Many Options?.......2007-03-16

This is a beautiful, well-researched and wonderfully presented book by home construction expert Sheri Koones. We have been considering either the purchase or construction of a second home, and based on what I have seen in this book, I am convinced pre-fab is the way to go. The author explained the concept of modular housing in her previous book, Modular Mansions, but this latest work presents the amazing variety of pre-fabricated construction options available to the homeowner/homebuilder. The gorgeous photos will stun you!

Living Large in Small Spaces: Expressing Personal Style in 100 to 1,000 Square Feet

Average customer rating:

Fabulousity on a budget
A lovely book that could use a bit of fine-tuning to best serve its intended readership
Really small spaces!
Living Large in Small Spaces
Delicious!

Living Large in Small Spaces: Expressing Personal Style in 100 to 1,000 Square Feet
Marisa Bartolucci , and Radek Kurzaj
Manufacturer: Harry N. Abrams
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0810991055

Book Description

With a little imagination and creativity--and without hiring a professional--almost anyone can transform a small living space into a comfortable and stylish environment. Whether decorating a dorm room, an apartment, or a little cottage, what we strive for is a look and feel that expresses our individual personalities. Part style guide, part idea sourcebook, this handy volume--designed to meet the needs of real people with real budgets--is packed with smart ideas, basic design principles, and enough inspiration to get you off the sofa to make it happen.

In her lively, informative text, design guru Marisa Bartolucci takes readers inside 33 small homes from cities across the U.S. to reveal how a strong sense of style--rather than design know-how or unlimited resources--is the most effective tool for transforming an ordinary cramped living space into a smart yet functional private sanctuary.

Customer Reviews:

Fabulousity on a budget.......2007-06-01

Well, I guess I'll add my voice to the chorus of reviewers for this book:

This is a jewel of a book. Lots of fabulous examples of small spaces with a lot of character. People who love art, collect books and appreciate unexpected decorating ideas will enjoy this book."

A lovely book that could use a bit of fine-tuning to best serve its intended readership.......2007-04-06

I really liked this book, but it only gets 4 out of 5 stars because I think the definition of "small spaces" is too broad. This book would be better if it showcased twice as many spaces from 100-600sqf, rather than going all the way up to 1000. Maybe for people who don't live in cities, 1000sqf is tiny, but I think a lot of the book's target audience would find that amount of space to be truly palatial. Many of the larger spaces had yards or terraces, sometimes doubling the real amount of living space, so that feels like a "cheat" to me. I got the most ideas out of the first half of the book, and the rest of the book was enjoyable as a general interior design book rather than a "small spaces" design book. Many of the featured homes' remodels involve knocking out walls and really re-working a space, so if you're a renter looking for what you can do with a small space you don't own, you might be disappointed. All in all, a very nice book with wonderful photographs, I just wish there was a greater focus on spaces under 600sqf, and more creative rentals being showcased for readers who are renters.

Really small spaces!.......2007-03-26

A small but pretty coffee table book with great content and some good ideas for living in tiny, tiny spaces.

1) 16 of the 33 profiled spaces were 500 sq ft or less! The other 17 were 600 - 1000 sq ft in size. I haven't seen many books on small space living that focus on this size range. Most books seem to present 2000 sqft houses as tiny.

2) The owners of these spaces didn't all have an unlimited budget. Many were in rentals so gut renovations, moving walls, etc was not an option. Many did have expensive or design worthy furniture and art but quite a few were heavily furnished with IKEA and thrift store finds.

3) Most of the owners had to be very carefull with clutter and picking pieces that would work in the space and that they really loved. Some of the other Amazon reviews found this to be somewhat unrealistic but I think that when you live in such small spaces, you are going to have to keep things very neat and tidy.

4) Part of the title is "expressing personal style". There is plenty of that in the book mostly clustered around what I'll call "modern" (eams etc), "drama" (red, red everywhere), eclectic and "standard" (danish). Many of the owners have extensive collections that are well presented and show off their unique personal style.

5) Most of these places are inhabited by: architects, artists, interior decorators, makeup artists, writers, curators, floral designers, etc. Essentially those who are in the "profession". I got the impression that hiring someone is de rigur if you are an accountant or fireman.

6) I liked the organization of the book by size of the space, architectural diagram of the space, lots of well shot photos, a narrative of who the residents are and how the space came to be and a picture of the residents.

7) One of my favorites were Francisco Parod and Ximena Orozco, the couple from Mexico living in a 450sqft NY apartment...with a baby! Not only did it look comfortable and open, they furnished almost everything at IKEA.

The other favorite was Karen Meyer. She had translucent screens that could slide between the living room and dining room. A murphy bed that was behind a shelf unit in the dining room could be opened up to create a guest room.

Living Large in Small Spaces.......2007-03-19

Although I was not overwhelmed with inspiration, I liked the set-up of this book. The spaces are grouped by square footage complete with pictures of all areas of the space and a floor plan so that you can visualize how the spaces fit together. I also liked the fact that there were various design styles. However, I could not visualize myself living in the majority of the spaces displayed in this book. The majority of the homes displayed were homes of designers and artists. Since I myself am not a designer or an artist, I could and would not begin to design like what was displayed in this book.

Delicious!.......2007-03-14

What a feast for my eyes!

If you are someone who takes courage from other's example, then try this edition out.

Apartment living is not so widespread here in Australia but that did not deter my appreciation for what imagination and flair can do for any space.

I buy books like this for inspiration, not slavish copying, so this one has been a successful buy for moi!

Multifamily Housing Development Handbook (Uli Development Handbook Series)

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Multifamily Housing Development Handbook (Uli Development Handbook Series)
Adrienne Schmitz
Manufacturer: Urban Land Institute
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0874208696

Book Description

Highly regarded for comprehensiveness and quality, ULI's handbooks have provided real estate professionals with practical advice and authoritative information on the development process for decades.

The Multifamily Housing Development Handbook covers best practices and proven techniques for a wide range of project types and settings. Each aspect of the development process is explained in detail, from market analysis and financing to product design and operations.

Rich with color photos, examples, and case studies, the book describes the real-life experiences and strategies of seasoned developers, planners, and architects.

Highlights

Covers a wide variety of multifamily housing types and locations including garden, townhouse and high-rise project types, affordable and high-end price ranges, new, rehab, historic preservation, and adaptive reuse properties, urban and suburban locations, niche products such as student, military, and seniors housing

Includes practical, how-to information on the multifamily housing development process such as market analysis, site selection, feasibility, financing, planning, design, regulations, marketing, operations, and management.

Provides 14 illustrated case studies of successful projects that cover the site history and challenges, feasibility and financing, planning and design, marketing/leasing, experience gained, project costs, rental prices, and schedule.

The Real Estate Recipe: Make Millions by Buying Small Apartment Properties in Your Spare Time (Nuts & Bolts Series) (Nuts & Bolts series)

Average customer rating:

Probably The Best Book On This Subject
Worth The Investment
Best I've Found Thus Far
The Real Estate Recipe: Make Millions by Buying Small Apartment Properties in Your Spare Time
Complete Waste of money

The Real Estate Recipe: Make Millions by Buying Small Apartment Properties in Your Spare Time (Nuts & Bolts Series) (Nuts & Bolts series)
Brian K. Friedman
Manufacturer: Dna Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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Introduction | Investing | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

The Complete Guide to Buying and Selling Apartment Buildings
Make More Money Investing in Multiunits: A Step-by-Step Guide
Investing in Duplexes, Triplexes, and Quads: The Fastest and Safest Way to Real Estate Wealth
How to Buy and Sell Apartment Buildings
What Every Real Estate Investor Needs to Know about Cash Flow... And 36 Other Key Financial Measures

ASIN: 0974876593

Book Description

Investing in apartment properties is made simple in this comprehensive resource for prospective buyers on how to make smart decisions about real estate and reach financial independence. Instructions, sample cases, worksheets, and real-life examples illustrate how to find and buy good property. An introduction to the real estate market for novices complements sophisticated discussions of finding value-added properties, determining market rent, obtaining a mortgage, refinancing, and selling. The expert advice presented offers an analytical approach to assuring predictable and successful investment in an often uncertain market.

Customer Reviews:

Probably The Best Book On This Subject.......2007-03-10

I have read and own numerous books on real estate investment and found this one to be one of the most concise and detailed books on apartment house investing on the market. I really don't understand what a previous reviewer meant by that it was a total loss. I found it to be detailed and informative. It literally takes you by the hand leads into investing on a property. I will be following the author's advice and begin investing in small apartment properties. If you are seeking true financial independence, you would be wise to purchase this book and not the crap promoted on late night t.v.

Worth The Investment.......2006-05-07

This is one of four books on purchasing and managing real estate that we purchased. Although pricey due to availability in hardback only, for those such as us that are first time buyers of commercial real estate, the data, clarity of thought and information will likely prove very valuable. It is a quick read that provides the basic tenets of buying multi-family units. The financial elements are fairly simplistic; hence we purchased an additional book that delves into the intricacies of purchasing and financing multi-family units.

Best I've Found Thus Far.......2006-02-25

Of the three books I've read on investing in multi-family real estate, this is by far the best. The author does a good job of walking the reader through from start to finish the purchase of a representative property. In the appendix the author provides several very easy to understand and useful financial analysis templates which can easily be recreated in Excel or any other spreadsheet program.

The Real Estate Recipe: Make Millions by Buying Small Apartment Properties in Your Spare Time.......2006-02-06

I found the book to be a very concise (Nuts & Bolts) and logical approach to buying small apartment properties from someone who obviously knows the process. He gives you all the tools needed to anaylise, purchase, manage and project profits. The forms in the book are easily accessed at the publisher's website www.dnapress.com for downloading. I'm closing on a 7 unit property in less than 2 weeks. Thanks Brian!

Complete Waste of money.......2005-10-14

This will be my first and only online review of any of my 200+ books in my library. But it needed to be said... The Biggest disappointment I have ever purchased...

1 Star
Two Thumbs Down
A Complete waste of money!

212 total pages (With Huge fonts and Filler pages after every Chapter Title Page)

4 Pages of Filler for "note"-taking in the back

17 Pages of "Constant Payment Tables/Remaining Loan Balance" Charts

The Book Averages 4 pages (Sides not full) per chapter of info

Page 151 is the Start of the Appendix

The New York Apartment Houses of Rosario Candela and James Carpenter

Average customer rating:

A Beautiful book of New York History and Architecture
Grand New York
Andrew Alpern's Labor of Love
Alpern's best work yet
New York Luxe

The New York Apartment Houses of Rosario Candela and James Carpenter
Andrew Alpern
Manufacturer: Acanthus Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

New York's Fabulous Luxury Apartments, with Original Floor Plans from the Dakota
Luxury Apartment Houses of Manhattan: An Illustrated History
New York Apartments
740 Park: The Story of the World's Richest Apartment Building
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ASIN: 0926494201

Book Description

FIRST MAJOR WORK PUBLISHED ON 20th CENTURY MASTER APARTMENT BUILDING DESIGNERS, ROSARIO CANDELA AND JAMES CARPENTER

Living on Park Avenue or Fifth could be regarded as a good sign you've arrived in New York but, for some, good is never quite good enough. True arbiters of taste define ultimate opulence by what hovers above and beyond the address: past the uniformed doorman, up the elevator, and across quiet thresholds. Here lies a world only a very privileged few call home — the coveted suites created by Rosario Candela and James Carpenter, time-honored masters of 20th century apartment house design.

Now, Acanthus Press offers the first major work on two of the most significant figures in the history of apartment house architecture: "The New York Apartment Houses of Rosario Candela and James Carpenter, by Apartments of the Affluent author Andrew Alpern.

Richly illustrated with archival photographs and floor plans, Alpern's book provides the architectural and social history of the great buildings of Candela and Carpenter, demonstrating the breadth of the designers' contribution to Manhattan's exterior and interior landscape. Added to the vintage photographs of elevations and interiors are later interiors done by some of New York's design elite: Buatta, Couturier, Cullman, Ferguson Shamamian & Rattner, Gwathmey, McMillen, Mark Hampton, Molyneux, Parish-Hadley, and others. Illuminating the volume with carefully researched facts and anecdotal narrative, the author demonstrates how Candela (1890-1953) and Carpenter (1867-1932) produced a golden age of apartment house design that was parallel to the golden age of New York's skyscrapers.

"Rosario Candela has replaced Stanford White as the real estate brokers' name-drop of choice," writes New York Times "Streetscapes" columnist, Christopher Gray. "Nowadays, to own a 10- to 20-room apartment in a Candela-designed building is to accede to architectural, as well as social cynosure."

Indeed, Candela and Carpenter not only understood the needs of discerning clientele; they effectively defined those needs. In concert with enlightened builders, these distinguished designers helped the affluent appreciate the amenities that separated the finest New York edifices from common residential buildings. "There was a wonderful assurance and solidity to his [Candela's] buildings," writes architecture critic Paul Goldberger. "They don't display any visible effort, in the greatest traditions of old money."

With well-proportioned rooms and imaginative layouts, Candela and Carpenter created the lavish structures that to this day continue to be the gold standard of Manhattan living spaces. More than a half-century later, their suites of rooms in the 124 remaining structures of the 127 they built prevail as the homes of the most successful New Yorkers.

The New York Apartment Houses of Rosario Candela and James Carpenter, features introductory essays by Christopher Gray and the prominent architectural designer David Netto.

Customer Reviews:

A Beautiful book of New York History and Architecture.......2006-07-15

An exquisite book! There are stories about each apartment house and how it came to be. I found the two architects, Candela and Carpenter, to be very interesting characters. The homes they designed are ahead of their time. The floor plans are fascinating. The book also shows, by the floor plans, how people lived and what their needs were. The authors even quote costs of building and tell of the people who lived there. If you like real estate you will find this fascinating.

Grand New York.......2005-08-30

Let me first say that I loved the period black and white photos of the buildings, I also appreciated the fact that all of the buildings mentioned came with requisite photos, that is a must in book of this sort. I really didn't know that much about these buildings nor the architects so this book gave me a real education, I came away more knowledged and very impressed. The attention to detail the architects employed in these buildings is amazing and the fact that so many are still extant is a tribute to the artistry and talent that went into designing and building them and obviously contempory wealthy apartment seekers appreciate these attributes or else we all know these buildings would have been pulled down long ago, just like so many of the Gilded Age mansions they replaced. This publishing house puts out such finely crafted books and this one does not disappoint, I highly recommend it.

Andrew Alpern's Labor of Love.......2001-12-27

Candela and Carpenter were two of New York's most noted architects of the inter-war era, specializing in luxury apartment buildings. Architectural historian Andrew Alpern has assembled a reference text of their buildings, organized in geographic sequence. In this book, a typical building has two pages dedicated to it. One page consists of a floor plan, and the facing page has a photo or rendering of the exterior, combined with a one-to-six sentence description. Also, there are several brief essays at the beginning of the book.

I enjoyed this volume, which Alpern has directed at a very narrow segment of readers, but it's not for everyone. This is a volume for architectural enthusiasts who are intrigued by room arrangements. Others might be better served by a book broader in scope (including some by this same author).

Alpern's best work yet.......2001-11-05

Alpern has written several books about New York apartment buildings and this is his best. This time he focuses exclusively on the genius of two ground-breaking designers, James Carpenter and Rosario Candela. If you are not adept at reading floor plans (of which there are many), it might not be immediately obvious what defines the genius of these two architects. It is the innovation of their layouts and the graciousness of their spaces that made apartment house living so desireable, allowing for the migration from town house to apartment building. Regardless, everyone will still enjoy the exterior and interior views of these great New York buildings and get a sense of how the rich really live. Alpern raises our awareness of the apartment house type in the City to a higher level, just as others had focused on the greatness of NYC's commercial structures.
Each building is described in detail and there is some chatty material about who lived where, who bought what, and maybe a little more of that would have added fun to the book. There is a chronology of all the buildings and I would have liked to have seen thumbnail pictures of the buildings next to the timeline, since the book is organized geographically. It is otherwise an excellent and elegant study of the complete apartment house works of these two great designers.

New York Luxe.......2001-10-26

Alpern has collected a comprehensive array of images and information both past and present that illustrate the breadth of work by Carpenter and Candela. Their buildings still house the privileged members of New York's social set that these apartment houses were designed for. Netto's intro is overwrought, pretentious and obviously included to lend a certain cachet from a card carrying member of Park Ave society. The book is a good visual reference, yet somewhat anticlimactic in it's format.

Average customer rating:

Sustainable Residential Interiors
Associates III , Kari Foster , Annette Stelmack , and Debbie Hindman
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

General | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Renewable Energy | Technology | Science | Subjects | Books

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Sustainable Commercial Interiors
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ASIN: 0471756075

Book Description

An illustrated guide to "green" design strategies

"This is a book that many in the design community have been waiting for--a volume that clearly and succinctly lays out the strategies and tools at our disposal for creating interiors that will serve not only our clients' needs, but also those of the planet. Best of all, it's an inspiration to read, allowing each of us to see our way to becoming a part of the design solution needed for a sustainable future. If you are a designer, you need this book!"
--Sarah Susanka, FAIA, author of the Not So Big series and Home by Design

"This excellent book will benefit designers of residential interiors that incorporate sustainable design into their practices or are looking to begin to do so. Designers may be surprised by the variety of projects shown that are great examples of residential sustainable interiors."
--Bernadette Upton, ASID, LEED AP, founding member of the Sustainable Design Council and member of the Florida Green Building Coalition

Issues of sustainability and environmental consciousness have been increasingly important to designers of residential interiors. A leading firm that has built its expertise in addressing environmental concerns in residential interiors, Associates III presents solutions for the design practitioner in this book. Covering topics such as indoor air quality, identifying low-impact materials, conserving energy and water, and support of construction teams in reducing waste, Sustainable Residential Interiors provides designers with the necessary information and tools to integrate environmentally responsible design into their practice.

Sustainable Residential Interiors takes readers through an integrated design process, showing how sustainable principles and practices can be applied on virtually every level of interior design. Taking a practical, hands-on approach, this accessible and easy-to-understand resource guide includes:
* Visual examples of sustainable projects and applications
* Critical thinking about environmental issues within homes
* Guidelines for clients and project teams
* Helpful checklists for greening projects and specification
* In-depth information to promote understanding and assist in specifying interior finishes and furnishings
* Questions for manufacturers and vendors
* Effective methods of marketing sustainable design services

Average customer rating:

Another fun read by a prolific author
More tales of the absurd
Espresso Tales
Book Does Not Travel Well
Chuckles on every page

Espresso Tales
Alexander Mccall Smith
Manufacturer: Anchor
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

44 Scotland Street
The Right Attitude to Rain (Isabel Dalhousie Mysteries)
The Good Husband of Zebra Drive (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency 8)
Blue Shoes and Happiness (No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency)
At the Villa of Reduced Circumstances

ASIN: 0307275973
Release Date: 2006-07-11

Book Description

Alexander McCall Smith’s many fans will be pleased with this latest installment in the bestselling 44 Scotland Street series.

Back are all our favorite denizens of a Georgian townhouse in Edinburgh. Bertie the immensely talented six year old is now enrolled in kindergarten, and much to his dismay, has been clad in pink overalls for his first day of class. Bruce has lost his job as a surveyor, and between admiring glances in the mirror, is contemplating becoming a wine merchant. Pat is embarking on a new life at Edinburgh University and perhaps on a new relationship, courtesy of Domenica, her witty and worldly-wise neighbor. McCall Smith has much in store for them as the brief spell of glorious summer sunshine gives way to fall a season cursed with more traditionally Scottish weather.

Full of McCall Smith’s gentle humor and sympathy for his characters, Espresso Tales is also an affectionate portrait of a city and its people who, in the author’s own words, “make it one of the most vibrant and interesting places in the world.”

Customer Reviews:

Another fun read by a prolific author.......2007-05-13

Alexander Mccall Smith has again produced another amusing tale with the characters of 44 Scotland Street. This sequel appeared as a column in "The Scotsman" and captures the lives of a diverse group of people. Smith's characters intrigue you--with all their idiosyncrasies and day-to-day dilemmas. Fun and light reading.

More tales of the absurd.......2007-05-01

I love a clever, witty, funny book, and this is another great one from Alexander McCall Smith. It was fun to hear the continuing saga of the denizens of 44 Scotland Street, and it's amazing to think that Smith wrote this in installments for the local paper. I particularly enjoyed the story of Bertie and his antics at school, including his new friends Tofu, Merlin, and Hiawatha.

I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first -- the sections about Ramsey Dumbarton were incredibly boring and I ended up skipping them -- but it was still quite entertaining.

Espresso Tales.......2007-03-25

I can't get enough of Mccall Smith. 44 and Espresso are delightful. I didn't agree that there were bits throughout that were boring. I find all the characters entertaining. I look forward to the next.

Book Does Not Travel Well.......2007-02-17

Espresso Tales was first published as daily installment's in the conservative newspaper, "The Scotsman". The novel follows the daily lives of an ensemble group of middle class Edinburgh neighbors. At its core, Espresso Tales is a novel of Edinburgh written for the people of Edinburgh. The book is filled with the inside references and observations that McCall Smith's neighbors must have delighted in.

Alexander McCall Smith is a great craftsman who specializes in the philosophical problems of ordinary life. However, I think his wise pen is best used when directed towards a lady detective in Botswana or linguistics professors in Germany. There is something about writing about his own backyard which fills McCall Smith with the need to preach to his neighbors. There is always the sense that McCall Smith is preaching to a conservative choir of loyal Scotsman readers.

Espresso Tales is a pleasant read with many charming chapters. Alexander McCall Smith has a winning personality and it is hard not to like his many books. However, if a reader is new to Alexander McCall Smith, this is not the first of his books to read. Start with the Number One Lady Detective Series and then move onto the sublime Portuguese Irregular Verb series.

Chuckles on every page.......2006-12-29

Mccall Smith is truly amazing. He has at least four book series going and all contain strikingly original and interesting characters. I happened to like the "Espresso Tales" sequel to "44 Scotland Street" somewhat better than the original. It's got more piquancy and snap and its ironies are sharper and often funnier. The resolutions of Bernie the Kid's painful problems with his yuppie mother and his much hated psychologist are delicious, but there are a host of other comeuppances that Mccall Smith hilariously tosses in here that are wonderful. This is a great airplane read--which is appropriate, since it is said that the author often creates most of these short novels on transatlantic flights of his own.

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