Financing Real Estate Investments for Dummies

Your practical guide to scoring cash to fuel your real estate investments

Want to be a smart, successful real estate investor? This no-nonsense guide contains everything you must know to make the right choices about financing your investments -- from the various options available and the impact on cash flow to the tax implications and risk factors involved. You also get tried-and-true tips for surviving a down market and using current investments to finance future ones.

Weigh your options -- decide which type of financing is best for your circumstances and incorporate it into your real estate investing plan

Finance residential properties -- evaluate residential loan programs, navigate the loan application and processing, and handle the closing

Invest in commercial properties -- know the different property types, choose the one that meets your investment goals, and discover unique sources for financing

Tap into unconventional sources -- discover the pros and cons of "hard money," capitalize on seller financing, partner to share risk and equity, and invest on the cheap with no-money-down deals

Open the book and find:

How to get prequalified or preapproved for a loan

Questions to ask your lender upfront

Ways to avoid common beginner blunders

How to protect your personal assets from investment risks

Bargain-hunting hints for low-cost loans

Strategies for surviving a credit crunch

Ten pre-closing steps you must take