Real Estate Finance & Investment Manual

Cummings is one of my favorite R.E. authors. He is very thorough. This one has chapters on conventional and creative financing, tax exchanges, land development, discounting mortgages, sale-leasebacks, how to get started and even dealing with foreclosure. Table of contents is very thorough and makes it very easy to go to the exact page you want to to find specific information. He is good with the numbers and doesnt leave much to the imagination like many authors do. I recommend anything by this author.

This "no-nonsense" book, by a seasoned investor and broker, is mostly focused on non-traditional real estate financing vehicles. Bits and pieces on the subject have previously taught by various gurus, but this book covers ALL of them. If every Realtor and investor read this, we would all be better off. Other recommended RE investing reads:The Unofficial Guide to Real Estate InvestingLandlording by Leigh Robinson5 Magic Paths to Making a Fortune In Real Estate InvestingThe Income Stream by Robt. Goodman

This and Landlording, by Leigh, are my two fave's so far as a real estate investor. This one tends towards overkill with many, many examples but other readers may want that more than I did. There are one or two strategy recommendations I disagree with rather heartily, but it's clear, pretty much accurate, and very readable. The no-nonsense writing reminds me a bit of T. Dallow or J. Reed, both also recommended.

Cummings brings 30+ years of creative RE finance experience to bear with specific examples of techniques that the average buyer/investor won't be familiar with but that work in the real world (particularly with commercial property). Could have used one more round of proofreading, but well worth studying just to expand your awareness of how to acquire property and how to get the best price when selling.

A comprehensive guide that is also so enjoyable to read. Jack weaves together a series of vignettes as a master story teller -- each one brilliantly illustrating an otherwise complicated and elusive point. If you invest in real estate, buy this book!