There are many facets to real estate from its location, the ground that it’s built on, its design, construction materials and techniques, and the various systems and appliances that are installed in it. Growing up I was always interested in how things worked and how they were put together.

In the years preceding the 2008 housing crash, everyone from the lady that cut my hair to the elementary school teacher that lived down the block was watching house flipping shows on TV and doing projects on their homes in an effort to get a piece of the pie. From bathroom remodels to knocking out walls, they were doing it! When things started to not look so hot, people started to cover up all of those DIY projects and head for the exits!

When I realized that the coming calamity was going to be a once in a lifetime chance to get real estate at a deep discount, I knew that in order to protect myself and my hard earned money, I was going to have to learn everything I could about real estate. I didn’t know any real estate agents, home inspectors, or contractors so I read everything I could get my hands on!

That said, the average homebuyer doesn’t need to go to the lengths that I did, as there are measures in place to protect them in their purchase. 

However, as former President Ronald Reagan famously said, “Trust, but Verify!” With that in mind, I’ve written several books in varying degrees of depth and breadth about building construction and systems, from those who just want the bullet points to those who want a deeper knowledge. For Investors, I highly suggest that you get INTIMATELY familiar with your product! I’ve been fortunate enough to save myself considerable time, money, and heartache by knowing what properties are a good buy and what properties to walk away from!