Real Estate Investing For Dummies by Eric Tyson

Part I
 Stacking Real 
Estate Up Against 
Other Investments

In this part . . .
 Real estate is just one of many available investment 
options, so in this part, we compare and contrast 
real estate investing with alternatives you may consider. 
We discuss the realities of investing in and managing 
rental properties (both the pros and the cons) and how to 
fit real estate into your overall personal financial plans. 
We also cover the gamut of real estate investments you 
have to choose from and how to begin to assemble a team 
of competent professionals to assist you with the process.

Chapter 1
 Evaluating Real Estate 
as an Investment
 In This Chapter
 ▶ Getting started
 ▶ Contrasting real estate with other financial options
 ▶ Deciding whether real estate is really for you
 ▶ Arranging your overall investment and financial plans to include real estate
 When Robert first entered the real estate field while attending college 
decades ago, his father, a retired real estate attorney, advised that he 
use his monthly income primarily to pay day-to-day living expenses and allo-
cate money each month into long-term financial investments like real estate. 
This solid advice has served Robert well over the years.
 It’s never too early or too late to formulate your own plan into a comprehen-
sive wealth-building strategy. For many, such a strategy can help with the 
challenges of funding future education for children and ensuring a comfort-
able retirement.
 The challenge involved with real estate is that it takes some real planning to 
get started. Contacting an investment company and purchasing some shares 
of your favorite mutual fund or stock is a lot easier than acquiring your first 
rental property. Buying property isn’t that difficult, though. You just need a 
financial and real estate investment plan, a lot of patience, and the willing-
ness to do some hard work, and you’re on your way to building your own real 
estate empire!
 In this chapter, we give you some information that can help you decide 
whether you have what it takes to make money and be comfortable with 
investing in real estate. We compare real estate investments to other invest-
ments. We provide some questions you need to ask yourself before making 
any decisions. And finally, we offer guidance on how real estate investments 
can fit into your overall personal financial plans. Along the way, we share 

Real Estate Investing For Dummies by Eric Tyson