Though I’m finally at the point where writing a book chronicling my years as an investment broker, plus more than a little of what I’ve learned, I keep being prodded (bullied?) to write an eBook first. That won’t be a problem, as I’ve given myself 10 years to do the ‘real’ book right.
I’d love to write about stuff important/interesting to me, but would no doubt be better advised to write on topics about which you guys wanna read & learn. It would please me greatly, and I’d be eternally grateful if you’d drop by here to let me know your preference(s).
Thanks so much for your input.
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About BawldGuy
If you haven’t revisited Robert Ringer’s first book in the last 30 or so years I suggest you do. You don’t have to like it. You don’t have to hate it. You just have to see what elements make a RE book stand out from the crowd.
Agreed! Excellent advice — thanks.
“Winning Through Intimidation” was 1974. 35 years. I feel old. The title doesn’t do justice to the underlying lessons. Strip out the ego and bluster and both the story line and style have merit.
Actually, I do remember that one. Had the turtle, right?
As a newbie, I think the most important topic to cover is the how-to on the basics of the purposeful plan. How do you go from flipping burgers to sitting on a beach collecting rent checks as a RE mogul?
I’d leave the details to you on what to write as only you know what questions to posit. Perhaps you could treat it as a kinda of, “If you could go back and do it all over again starting as a teenager with your first job, what would you have done differently?” I dunno, just a thought.
Josh — Your suggestion is what half of my hardcover book will be.
The eBook will more likely be a series of topics explained in more depth than I can here — but not as in depth as in a 300 page book. Make sense?
Oh, thought you were asking for suggestions on both. Well then, if I had to pick a few topics for ebook materials I would say the following:
1. Insurance – What to get, how much to get of it, and what to watch out for while researching, maintaining, and during an incident.
2. Financing – What kind of things do newbies do that would make a CPA wanna smack your mouth like your Momma used to? Down payment details, how to work the system (pay extra points?, offer less down payment for more interest or vica versa, etc). Sominex – You can either sleep comfortably or go to sleep with a left and then a right from Bubba Real Estate.
3. Types of property for new, over-the-hill, and mature investors. When starting out a new investor might shoot for a duplex that is a 2-1 and convert them to 2-3′s and then exchange, etc. While a middle-ages (in experience that is) might shoot for 4-to-12 plexes or multiple duplexes, etc depending. Older might shoot for entire complexes or what-have-you. How about an ebook dedicated to a fiction character that is based on a real life true story (johnny buys a duplex, 4 years later johnny upgrades to two 4 plexes, etc… until he retires).
4. Property Managers – How to pick em, work the contract, maintain them, and follow-up with them. What are our roles in the relationship and who is responsible for what? How should it work and what should I pay them for it? Do I trust the reports they send me or do I check on the numbers to ensure they aren’t falsified?
I could go on and on. I’ll stop here though.
You’ve been reading, listening, and retaining. You make me proud. Excellent suggestions, all. I especially like the story approach. Much appreciated.
Would love to see a section about analyzing and selecting out-of-area markets to invest in. When looking for capital growth regions, what demographics, trends, price points, etc are you looking for?
Hey Brian — That seems to be what many would like to see. Been getting many ‘backdoor’ communications with topic suggestions. That subject is a natural. Thanks!