Advanced Selling For Dummies

“This book is designed for realty investors who want to profit from buying below market, making cosmetic improvements to add value, and then quickly reselling. But real estate agents and home buyers should also study it because of the valuable insights offered by a longtime, very successful real estate broker. On my scale of one to 10, this superb book rates an off-the-chart 12.”
—Robert Bruss

You’ve probably seen TV shows like Flip This House and Flip That House, in which Real estate investors buy, renovate, and sell a house in a matter of weeks for tens of thousands of dollars in profit. They make flipping houses look so easy that you want to jump out of your recliner (during the next commercial, of course), run down the street, find a house for sale, flip it for a 50 percent profit, and run back home to continue watching the show.

I, Ralph Roberts, have flipped hundreds of houses, and it’s never as easy as it looks on TV. People don’t generally line up at your front door begging you to buy their house for 30-50 percent below market value. Renovation expenses always exceed estimates. And you can’t always sell a house for what you think it’s worth.

Flipping houses for a profit requires time, money, and what I like to call sticktoitism—dogged determination in the face of overwhelming uncertainty.

Not just another house flipping book

You can find plenty of books about flipping houses that claim “anyone can do it” and make flipping look easy and risk-free. Flipping Houses For Dummies takes a different approach—honesty. We don’t claim that flipping houses is “easy” or “simple” or “risk-free,” because, quite frankly, it isn’t.

Flipping Houses For Dummies reveals the risks and rewards of flipping properties; helps you determine whether you have the time, energy, cash, and other resources to be successful; and then conveys the expert knowledge that those who wish to pursue house flipping need in order to minimize risk and maximize potential profits in a very competitive market. Did you know?

Most books on flipping houses gloss over the key factors that that make or break the novice house flipper. These are the very items we focus on in Flipping Houses For Dummies. For example, did you know:

You should secure financing before you look at houses.
As a flipper, you want dontwanners—houses that the owners obviously don’t want.
You make your profit when you buy the property. You realize your profit when you sell.
Always plan on earning at least 20 percent after your total investment—purchase price, repairs and renovations, real estate agent commissions, and holding costs (monthly mortgage payments, insurance, property taxes, and utilities).
Working with a top-notch real estate agent can save you thousands of dollars more than what you pay in commissions.
You should choose a limited geographical area to work and then become an expert on the houses and property values in that area.
Your goal when renovating a home should be to bring the property up to market standards, not exceed them.

A flipping book for real people
Flipping Houses For Dummies speaks to the mom and pop investor, steering you clear of the gray areas, which tend to carry high-risks and low-returns, into safer, more potentially profitable areas. We encourage you invest in your comfort zone and take on bigger, riskier projects with higher profit potential only when you’re ready.

In Flipping Houses For Dummies we stress that the first flip is the most important one, and we take the guesswork out of the first transaction, to lead you through a positive first experience on which to build a promising real estate investment portfolio.

Flipping Houses For Dummies provides plenty of examples of successful and not-so-successful property flips, presenting the total investment (in time and money), the work involved, and the net profit. Before-and-after photos visually illustrate the positive transformations from run-down-shacks to showcase homes.

Facing foreclosure? You need to do three things: stop worrying about why this has happened to you; resolve to fight the foreclosure and save your home; and read Foreclosure Self-Defense For Dummies. It delivers the knowledge, strategies, and tactics you’ll need to take command of your situation and achieve the best possible outcome.
This practical, no-nonsense guide helps you size up your options and increase your chances of saving your home. You’ll find out how to delay foreclosure, form a plan of attack, negotiate solutions with your lender, and restore your financial health. You’ll also find field-tested strategies for dodging the foreclosure trap, getting out from under a house you really can’t afford, and finding help where you might least expect it.

Discover how to:

Regain your emotional composure
Confront your foreclosure head-on
Protect your rights
Assess your situation and weigh your options
Touch base with key people who can help you
Stop the financial bleeding
Team up with your lender to find solutions
Work out a refinancing deal with another lender
Avoid quick-fix schemes and scams
Cash out before it’s too late
Recover from foreclosure
Re-establish your credit

Complete with a handy cheat-sheet to help you keep your most important tasks in the front of your mind Foreclosure Self-Defense for Dummies gives you the moral support, commonsense guidance, and expert advice you need to make the best of this difficult situation.

ot just another house flipping book
You can find plenty of books about flipping houses that claim “anyone can do it.” Flipping Houses For Dummies takes a different approach—honesty. We don’t claim that flipping houses is “easy” or “simple” or “risk-free,” because, quite frankly, it isn’t.

Flipping Houses For Dummies reveals the risks and rewards of flipping properties; helps you determine whether you have the time, energy, cash, and other resources to be successful; and then conveys the expert knowledge that those who wish to pursue house flipping need in order to minimize risk and maximize potential profits in a very competitive market.

Negotiating strategies to close deals faster
Mortgage myths in the new economy
Time- and money-saving tips for making every day and every dollar count
New strategies for scoring bank-owned and foreclosed properties
Quick makeover solutions on everything from curb appeal to kitchens and bathrooms

Flipping Houses For Dummies provides plenty of examples of successful and not-so-successful property flips, presenting the total investment (in time and money), the work involved, and the net profit. If you’re ready for hard work and big profits, start flipping!

With the housing bubble of the past few years bursting and interest rates on the rise, there has been an upsurge in the number of foreclosures across the country, creating many opportunities for profit. But investing in real estate foreclosure[s?] can be a tough job, especially when a negative stigma is attached. How do you make money while preserving your morals and trust?
Foreclosure Investing For Dummies shows you how to invest in foreclosures ethically without being accused of stealing homes from “little old ladies.” This step-by-step guide helps you thoroughly research property, find the best opportunities, purchase foreclosures, and avoid misleading distressed homeowners. This book doesn’t promise quick profits through minimal work, but it will provide you with invaluable information to become a successful investor, including:

Identifying opportunities and understanding risks
Obtaining information, tools, support, and resources
Locating properties prior to foreclosure
Assisting homeowners through the foreclosure process
Acquiring properties below market value prior to the auction
Buying property at an auction, from lending institutions, and government agencies
Repairing, renovating, and selling or leasing property

This book provides tips and strategies for refinancing your property and maximizing your profits. It also gives you advice on how to assist homeowners, have them work with you, and common mistakes you should avoid. It’s time to go out and make the most of foreclosure investing, and with Foreclosure Investing For Dummies by your side, your hard work and devotion will bring tons of success!

Are you constantly worrying about what you or your loved ones eat? Is every dining experience an episode of anxiety for you? Being allergic to different types of food not only ruins the experience of eating, it can lead to dangerous, sometimes lethal, consequences.
With Food Allergies for Dummies, you can feel safer about what you eat. This concise guide shows you how to identify and avoid food that triggers reactions. This guide covers how to care for a child with food allergies, such as getting involved with his/her school’s allergy policies, packing safe lunches, and empowering him/her to take responsibility for his allergy. You will also discover:

The signs and symptoms of food allergies
How to determine the severity of your allergy
Ways to eat out and travel with allergies
How to create your own avoidance diet
Ways to enjoy your meal without allergic symptoms
How to prevent food allergies from affecting your child
The latest research being done to treat food allergies

Food Allergies for Dummies also provides an in-depth chapter on peanut allergy and how to spot traces of peanut in your food. With this book, you will feel safer and more comfortable while you eat. And, with plenty of helpful resources such as Web sites and allergy-friendly recipes, you’ll hardly have to worry about your diet!