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Read 'em (real estate books) and reap

By Times staff writer
In print: Monday, July 14, 2008

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Real estate in Florida has become an increasingly risky venture. But some experts still argue there's money to be made, whether taking advantage of foreclosures or changing your marketing tactics. Here's a sampling of books that you might want to check out if you're still looking to dabble in property deals. Times staff writer The ForeclosureS.com Guide to Advanced Investing Techniques You Won't Learn Anywhere Else, by Alexis McGee (Wiley, $21.95)

If you see buying foreclosed properties as your ticket to wealth, this book will help you get there with details on short sales, configuring deals, buying deeds of trust, a rundown on state foreclosure laws and more. This is a follow-up to the author's first book on the subject, The ForeclosureS.com Guide to Making Huge Profits Investing in Pre-Foreclosures Without Selling Your Soul. Sell Your Home in Any Market: 50 Surprisingly Simple Strategies for Getting Top Dollar Fast, by Jim Remley (Amacom, $15)

Proper marketing, not timing, is everything, the author argues, when it comes to selling a home. He offers advice on everything from cleaning a home before offering it for sale, to questions an inspector is likely to ask, to tracking matters sellers find most problematic, offering incentives and remaining calm while a house remains on the market. Make Money as a Buyer's Agent: Double Your Commissions by Working With Real Estate Buyers, by Chantal Howell Carey and Bill Carey (Wiley, 24.95)

The authors find a potential in switching sides, representing buyers instead of sellers as unsold homes form a glut. They target both new and experienced agents wanting to make the transition, showing how to develop commissions, setting up retainers and fulfilling buyers' needs. Included is a quick history of the American real estate industry, sample sales pitches and more. Powerhouse Principles: The Billionaire Blueprint for Real Estate Success, by Jorge Perez (Celebra, $23.95)

The highly successful developer offers lessons he has learned in his career to those wanting to strike it rich in real estate. His advice to would-be entrepreneurs covers such topics as flexibility, passion, hard work, discipline and integrity, applied to investment strategies, rules for selecting properties, construction timetables, securing equity and selling sites.

Reports from the Los Angeles Times-Washington Post News Service were used for this story.