This book presents a variety of financing options, but is far too general to be very useful to an investor with much experience. Too heavy on the theoretical and too light on the practical application.

This was the most useless book on real estate investing I have read to date. Over and over, she talks very generally about the same old ways to finance a deal, but never explains in any sort of detail how to go about pulling it off. On top of that there are literally 55 pages of amortization tables (nearly 20% of the book) which seems a total waste of space. The entire book could have probably been written in 30 to 40 pages. I suppose if you have absolutely no ideas what a loan is, then the very general info in this book will at least help you build your vocabulary.

At first glance my thoughts were that Susan Smith Alvis had written a book that is great for beginners but for the seasoned real estate investor this booked did not seem to provide any information that is new and enlightening. How wrong I was! I consider myself to be a fairly seasoned real Estate investor and I still learned something new from this book.

"How to Creatively Finance your Real Estate Investments and Build Your Fortune" takes an in depth look into what it takes to start investing in real estate and how to finance your venture. Real estate investing can be a lucrative business but if not taken seriously and understanding exactly what you are getting into can get you into real trouble real fast.

Ms. Alvis does a great job of not only pointing this out, but also gives clear examples of how to find good properties and determine whether or not they will be profitable. Ms. Alvis also makes good use of the industry lingo and explains in great detail what it means and when and where it will be used.

Much of the information in the beginning chapters seemed more relevant to young couples who were just starting out and wanting to buy their first home. But if you hang in there Ms. Alvis does get around to what I believe investors are hoping this book will deliver.

The latter chapters are informative and do get around to giving practical on just what creative financing is and how to go about making it work for you. She explains in clear terms what options are available to investors at all levels and walks you through the pros and cons of each scenario.

I enjoyed reading the break out boxes that gave real life examples of people who have lived through each example that Ms. Avis presents as options for us as readers. Like many investors experiences, Ms. Avis starts out nice and slow but then picks up speed and moves forward with information that is useful to investors at any stage of the game.

At least 200 pages too long. Extremely basic information that simply gets repeated for hundreds of pages. If you are looking for ways to "creatively finance" your investments then you are out of luck with this book. She never explains how to do it!

In one 29 page chapter entitled: "How to find the money you need," she uses "examples" which consist of 20 PAGES of amortization schedules! She never explains HOW to find the money, only that there IS money and then throws in useless 30 year amortization schedules.

Whatever you do, do not buy this book.

Good information, but very general. Seemed like a lot of filler, with repetition of the same information. I was turned off by the number of typos, which I find unacceptable for a serious publication.

Another $25 I'll never see again.
This book tries to list all the things that are related to real estate investing, but none of those was either explained in detail or illustrated by real example. The language is long and hard to understand.
She claims to be an agent, and now an invester. However there is neither wit nor experience shown in the book. I can't guess if she actually did all those, but the book is bad. I suspect that the book is either written by ghostwriter, or she herself is a ghostwriter.
Don't buy it. Buy those written by real RE investors.

Another $25 I'll never see again.
This book, writen by some woman who is so FoH, tries to list all the things that are related to real estate investing, but none of those was either explained in detail or illustrated by real example. The language is long and hard to understand.
She claims that she was an agent, and now an invester. However there is neither wit nor experience shown in the book. I can't guess if she actually did all those, but the book is bad. I suspect that the book is either writen by ghostwriter, or she herself is a ghostwriter.
Don't buy it. Buy those writen by real RE investors.

I could write 1000 words on this waste of paper but I'll keep it simple. I bought this book because it claimed it would EXPLAIN creative financing options. Just because you list something, that does not mean it is explained. I expected to read step-by-step examples of how to structure contracts with cash back at closing, vtb, etc. Awful waste of time and money on this book. And what is up with the pages and pages of amortization tables?? Are you kidding me?? Anybody can see the tables with an amortization calculator online - all you had to do was state which mortgage scenario was better. You dont print out pages and pages and pages and pages of numbers. Wasting paper on these tables was a joke and this book is a joke. Worst real estate book I have read yet.

How to Creatively Finance Your Real Estate Investments and Build Your Personal Fortune: What Smart Investors Need to Know -Explained Simply is a book that does exactly what it purports to do. The author refers to the book as "your reference as you embark on a new way to invest in real estate". Filled with examples, case studies, ideas, charts, and food for thought, you will find page after page of simple and realistic goals and how to work to achieve them. Written in layman's terms, this book helps you know exactly where to start to be able to receive the highest possible return on your investments. For instance, you will be taught to be a smart landlord, how to find and work with foreclosures, and where to get your financing. She explains the secrets to good negotiating, how to make loans work for you, and when and how to speculate successfully. For those of you with any desire to better your financial standing via real estate investments, Ms. Smith Alvis is your tutor, your advisor, and your new best friend in your quest to financial success.

All of these real estate books are pretty much the same. They give you hints on how to buy real estate, but do not give you any real substance. This book is the same. After reading it, I do not know any better than I did before how to creatively finance my real estate deals. I am not any better off in terms of investing and again disappointed in my quest to create a real estate portfolio without tying up all my cash.

Would you like to increase your real estate profits by using some new investment tools? If that's the case, then this is the book you need to read to learn the ins and outs of creative financing. Sharpen your approach, understand what tools are tailor-made for you and move forward with a new perspective! When you're ready to expand your financial horizons this book shows how to maximize your profits as either a buyer or seller of investment properties.

Knowing how to negotiate using creative financing is the essence of using this book to its full potential and author Susan Smith Alvis takes you through the process with amazing clarity and a user-friendly approach. The reader will understand everyone's role in putting together a tight package. Choose the right agent, line up your financing (VA, FHA, assumable, wraparound or seller financing) and set the terms to buy a property that works for you.

Taking a creative approach to financing opens up a world of profitable advantages in the realm of vacation rentals, foreclosures and "damaged by reputation" real estate. Use this book to find the money and learn how to build a portfolio of no-down properties that give you the leverage you need to be a successful owner and savvy seller--on your terms. When you're ready to start thinking outside the box, give yourself a treat and read this book for a look at what's going on around the traditional business of real estate.

[...] It seemed that 25% of this book's pages are needless amortization tables which no one would even consider going over in order to grasp the basic points she is trying to make. The same ideas are repeated over and over and over again in this book and this along with the many pages of amortization tables makes it feel like they were just trying to fill the book up any way possible. If your going to spend your hard earned money on real estate books try anything by Larry Loftis, Steve Berges, Steven Fisher, and Spencer Strauss. Good luck !

I look at the reviews for this book and I am truly shocked. If you have read any real estate books at all you realize this book has only about 10% decent content. I often wonder why there are so many poorly written real estate books and I could probably answer my own question.It seemed that 25% of this book's pages are needless amortization tables which no one would even consider going over in order to grasp the basic points she is trying to make. The same ideas are repeated over and over and over again in this book and this along with the many pages of amortization tables makes it feel like they were just trying to fill the book up any way possible. If your going to spend your hard earned money on real estate books try anything by Larry Loftis, Steve Berges, Steven Fisher, and Spencer Strauss. Good luck !

The down-to-earth, conversational tone of How to Creatively Finance is positively refreshing. The book's attractive layout and neat organization make it a pleasure to read. I found the anecdotes and case studies to be both informative and thoroughly enjoyable. Tables and charts make the financial examples clear. How to Creatively Finance offers a variety of scenarios for real estate investors, including advice on buying in unpopular markets, vacation rentals and foreclosures, and acting as landlord.

After reading the book, I actually found the title of the book to be a bit narrow. The topics of advice on the various aspects of real estate investments are much more varied than the title might indicate. I would recommend this book for anyone interested in discovering how to invest in the real estate market without emptying the bank account.

The old ways of investing in real estate are gone, and the times have been changing for the better, the author points out. She shows you all the methods to become financially secure, even if you are flat broke. Whether you are interested in rental properties, making huge profits in selling, or just holding onto a good investment, Alvis demonstrates how to step out of the box to propose creative deals when buying and selling real estate.
Along with the traditional ways of financing, the book reveals how you can use your 401(k), options, the seller's money or second, assumable, overlapping and wraparound mortgages. You can even use someone else's money and credit, instead of drawing from your own bank account.
Alvis, who has been a licensed real estate agent, explains how to diversify in real estate from handy-man specials to apartment buildings with long-term tenants, how to branch out using several banks and lenders, and how to find moneymaking foreclosures.
The book holds your hand from the beginning to help you find the right real estate agent, financier and property on your way to becoming a successful property investor.

If you wish you had gotten into the real estate boom, "How to Creatively Finance Your Real Estate Investments and Build Your Personal Fortune" by Susan Smith Alvis will help you get ready for the next one. Alvis teaches you how to use professionals - real estate agents and bankers -- to find and finance investment properties. How to document the investment, handle volatile markets, approach potential investors, be a landlord and then sell for a profit. The book includes checklists and amortization charts.