Blog Archives
Backstage Guide to Real Estate
In Backstage Guide to Real Estate, author Matt Picheny discusses real estate, investments, financial freedom, and life hurdles, among other exciting topics. The author is insightful and discusses crucial in-depth subjects that involve money and living a good life. The author starts his book by writing about his journey as an accidental investor, his trial and error methods, and how he got rich through real estate.
I appreciate the author for his openness and being genuine with his readers. Matt Picheny writes that it took him time to amass wealth from real estate. His journey was not simple, but through determination, he made it.
This book gives you a step-by-step guide on what to do, the suitable investments to pick, the path to take, and your relationship with money. I found the author’s discussions on the relationship with money profound. Matt Picheny does not conceal his experiences; he writes about his highs and lows and even invites the reader to his world.
Readers that enjoy rags to riches stories will love this book. Matt Picheny shares life lessons and encourages anyone on a self-making journey not to give up hope. I like the language he uses in ‘this book. It is unassuming. He uses few words, but the message gets home. When talking about his personal experiences, the author knows what to filter and what will benefit the reader.
I like that Matt Picheny owns his mistakes with grace and is willing to admit that he was wrong and correct his ways. The author is articulate and lays down his points skillfully. The financial concepts in the book are applicable, and the author’s objectivity is admirable.
Backstage Guide to Real Estate is for all ambitious people in business. The financial gems in this book are plenty. Some of the significant takes from this book include; teamwork, making the dream work, building a community of trust, Learning to pivot i.e., being flexible with change, and When you are sinking, don’t let go of the boat.
Pages: 270 | ASIN : B09MGJ39TW
Harvard Can’t Teach What You Learn from the Streets
Samuel Liebman welcomes you to the world of real estate in an unorthodox but interesting way. His eye-opening book, Harvard Can’t Teach What You Learn from the Streets: The Street Success Guide to Building Wealth through Multi-Family Real Estate steps away from information traditionally taught in the classroom. Instead, it focuses on taking readers into the world and experiencing firsthand what goes into real estate. The author is raw, honest, and does not shy away from the hard topics. Sam Liebman is open with his life, career, engagements, and how he interacts with professionals in the industry.
The topics in the book are significant in today’s world. The chapters are distinctly titled, and the author makes it easy for the reader to follow his work. The subject matter is broken down into lessons that are accessible for all. The intent is to prevent novices from making the same mistakes others made. Once you read this thought-provoking book, you will understand just how passionate Sam Liebman is about Real Estate. There is no elitism in his text, no patronizing tone even when addressing those that are new, and no brushing off of issues affecting Real Estate.
Chapters include information on analytical concepts in the real estate business, basic methods to increase property value, and decreasing property’s operating expenses were my favorite. The author will give you a clear sight of just how things are and what needs to be done to benefit both clients and realtors.
I appreciate the author for talking about cap rates. The last chapter has everything you need to know about changes in cap rates, issues that lead to a low cap rate environment, cap rates in the 90s vs. 2000s, and much more. Readers will feel enlightened by the end of this educational book and will be able to make an impartial decision about properties.
Harvard Can’t Teach What You Learn from the Streets is an objective and informative look at the real estate market. Readers will learn practical, real-life information that can help them advance in this field.
Pages: 354 | ASIN : B09M7TZMT6
The “Urban Explorer” Subculture
Gordon MacKinney Author Interview
Follow Me Down is a thrilling novel that follows Lucas as he seeks justice for his family while uncovering corruption in the city’s largest real estate development company. What was your inspiration for this novel and the setup to the story?
The never-used subway beneath Cincinnati is real—built during the Depression but abandoned and sealed up. I lived for years near Cincinnati, both scared and intrigued by ghosts beneath my feet. When I later learned about the “urban explorer” subculture, I HAD to write the story.
One thing I really appreciated in this story was the authenticity of the relationships. What were some themes you wanted to capture while creating your characters?
Observant readers will notice one consistent theme for the four main characters: the plight of the underdog. Lucas, suppressed by corporate corruption. Alfred Blumenfeld, put down by cruel social mores, and Tricia Blumenfeld too, unwilling to play the part of the “good girl.” And Reuben, victimized for being short and Jewish. These characters deserved a voice and a shot at justice.
Lucas explores Cincinnati’s underground in this novel and the scenes were detailed and well developed. Why did you choose this setting for the novel?
In the story, protagonist Lucas reflects on a childhood experience descending voluntarily into a well on his grandfather’s farm. That scene resembles my own childhood “adventure.” What urban explorers do is just damn cool, risking capture and physical dangers in very cool places. Also, the noblest among these modern-day adventurers respect and revere the places they infiltrate. I admire them.
I find a problem in well-written novels, in that I always want there to be another book to keep the story going. Is there a second book planned?
Thank you! While I’m finished with Lucas for now, two new stories are underway. The first fictionalizes a true 1980’s battle between an auto manufacturer and an underdog labor union. The second, set in small-town USA, explores the plight of another underdog, a young woman unjustly blamed for a deadly accident.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
![Follow Me Down by [MacKinney, Gordon]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51mpGewBYTL.jpg)
Urban explorer Lucas Tremaine should buckle down and complete his Masters in Architecture, but the past torments him. Six years earlier, Drax Enterprises’ negligence killed his father and left his mother strung out on Valium. Lucas longs to punish the corrupt behemoth of Cincinnati real estate development, but what can one man do?
“Plenty,” says old Mr. Blumenfeld, Lucas’s boss and a former photojournalist with too many secrets. Evidence to bury Drax exists, he claims, but to find it, Lucas must breach the city’s welded-shut subway system. Lucas takes the plunge, aided by his best friend and moral compass, Reuben Klein.
The deeper the duo infiltrates the dangerous underground, the further back they turn the clock. They learn that Drax’s corruption intertwined with fascism’s rise in Germany. That campfire tales of a subway crypt were true. That no one can be trusted, not even Lucas’s boss.
Ian Bradshaw | The Crooked Boundary
The Crooked Boundary is an intriguing story that slowly builds a crooked moral line between right and wrong. What was your inspiration for the setup of the story and how did that help you create the ending?
The inspiration was a friend who built a house on the wrong block of land; resulting in a legal battle that ended with a rather hollow win for him.
The description of the characters and their back stories are well developed. What is your experience with investing, websites, and real estate and how did you bring that into the novel?
I have dabbled in real estate investing for many years. As for websites, my knowledge is rather limited.
I think of The Crooked Boundary as a suspense story as well as a revenge story. Was it your intention to write this story in those genres?
Yes, as it was not intended to be a “who dunnit” mystery novel, I combined those two genres.
One of the main moral decisions in the novel is left up to a character named Cruz who I find to be an interesting person. What was your inspiration for that character and his role in the story?
Just to have a colorful character who could be construed as the good guy in the story.
Author Links: Facebook | GoodReads
Disgruntled investors who participated in class actions against the promoters of two failed dot-com companies in Australia and Brazil are left stunned when both actions are dismissed in the courts. The promoters then use the profits from their dubious business operations in the development of a country club and golf course in Tarabush, Australia. The project will be built on land purchased from their next door neighbor, Rex Whittaker, who lost money in the Australian dot-com company. Rex is a retired widower living alone; he befriends Cruz Bardot an information technology specialist who served in the Gulf War. Cruz is also the president of a dirt bike club located in bushland behind Rex’s property. When the only access bridge to the dirt bike club area is washed away in a flash flood, Rod and Cal, who are an eccentric pair of Vietnam vets and despite their age are dirt bike club members, go looking in the forest for another way to get to the dirt bike area. As they look for that alternative route they meet Rex for the first time, and unbeknown to everyone except Cruz, what comes out of that chance meeting creates what could be an opportunity for some of the investors to recoup part of their losses. It is now up to Cruz to decide what to do about it.
The Crooked Boundary
The Crooked Boundary by Ian Bradshaw is a tale of the owners of two dot-com companies in Brazil and Australia that completely failed, causing investors to lose a great deal of money. The investors are so upset, they filed a class action suit against the owners. The owners then take the earning from those companies and being the development on a country club and golf course in Australia. Behind that property is a dirt bike course whose only access bridge becomes washed away in a storm. Two members of the club decide to go in search of an alternative route to the club in a nearby forest. There they meet Rex and Cruz. This chance meeting begins an opportunity for the previous investors of the failed dot-com companies to regain some of their losses.
Mr. Ian Bradshaw writes with an authoritative and informative voice. He spends time building up the background of the dot-com companies as well as the owners. The settings are very descriptive and characters are complex. The flow and pacing of the story is conducive to the development of the characters. Mr. Bradshaw does a good job at developing the battle between the self interest of the owners and the high moral ground they choose to ignore. This conflict develops organically through dialogue and character interaction. He does a great job relating everything together without making it feel forced or unnatural. The story takes place in two of the most interesting and exotic places: Australia and Brazil, thus giving the story a remote feel to it. But with that said, sometimes there was so much description that some points needed to be reread as it seemed difficult to understand some of the wording. And there were some sections that were heavy in investment and business lingo.
Otherwise, the author weaves an interesting tale of complex interpersonal relationships and shady business practices. A lot of things are happening at once in this story, or rather multiple stories that are all connected through the same cast of characters. Every step of the way, Bradshaw keeps his readers guessing and contemplating what will happen next. Every moment in the story is unpredictable building suspense in seemingly common interactions. The characters are completely unpredictable as well, just when you think you know how a certain character will react to a situation, they do something different. What I really enjoyed about this story is that it’s complete; there are no holes leaving me wondering what happened.
There are many elements that go into making this an excellent story. Mr. Bradshaw draws on his experiences as a real estate investor for his novel. This is evident throughout the novel. He does a remarkable job at turning his own knowledge into a fascinating novel. I would recommend this novel not only to people who enjoy business and investment, but also those who enjoy a compelling novel with a unique style of suspense.
Pages: 330 | ISBN: 1502364433
Sold! Above Market
Author of Sold! Above Market, “
What is the number one question that you get asked about buying a home?
What’s my home worth and have you got any buyers?
In Sold Above Market you mention ‘real estate agent speak’. What has been your experience with this lingo?
Real estate agents are notorious for using industry abbreviations and process names that may not be well known to sellers which fuels the mystery around selling so my book is designed to help educate sellers to make the process more transparent.
Do you think it’s important to find a real estate agent, or do you think this is something people can do on their own?
People will either have an agent in mind, often the one who sold them the home, or they won’t have a clue who to call so they need all the help they can get in finding the right agent not just the first agent they meet.
What was your inspiration for writing a book about the home buying process?
I find that the better educated sellers are about the process the smoother the whole transaction runs so my goal is to try and answer sellers questions before they even start which means they can make an informed decision about the right agent to sell for them.
Follow Geoff Grist on his Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | Email
Selling real estate is extremely rewarding and to ensure you enjoy the very best real estate experience I have developed a six step process to sell your home in under 30 days. This is the very process I use to make my customers smile. – Geoff Grist
LITERARY TITAN 