REAL ESTATE FOR REAL PEOPLE

This real-estate advice is dispensed in a clear voice and peppered with ample investment experiences from Von Mickle’s own life.

In this real-estate guide, the author lays out some necessary steps for readers: find information from many sources, visualize their goals and do the work required, both physically and on paper. If readers follow suit, Von Mickle counsels, their dreams will materialize in time. President of the group Investment Forum, the author received formal business training, but has learned much of what he shares from the informal training provided by the real-estate market. He explains the fine points of investing for income and portfolio growth, including how to obtain and understand credit reports; loan options for home or investment purchase or upkeep; real-estate taxes and potential increases; property selection, including location, builder and considerations for renting; finding good tenants; upkeep with or without a team or management agency; and selling. Von Mickle is aware that most of his audience is already kept busy with their careers, and lacks the extra income or time to make the necessary investments. In fact, this was the author’s situation when he began. While some of his advice may not be optimal–interest-only mortgages, for example, if house prices are not increasing–given the recent changes in the real-estate market, the author explains the reasoning behind his suggestions clearly with charts and graphs that illustrate and compare options. Von Mickle’s advice is generally lucid and succinct, providing a point of view that may be new to real-estate novices or those who’ve only purchased primary residences–such as remembering that a seller’s marketing is aimed toward his primary goal of selling, while a buyer’s goal should be unemotionally aimed at finding the best investment, which may not be the buyer’s ideal personal residence. The author advises that real-estate transactions be considered only as business, for optimal results. Though this real-estate investment guide is not exhaustive in reach, it serves its introductory purpose well.

A real-estate primer with valuable lessons, based on the author’s life experiences.