SmartMoney Guide to Real Estate Investing »

GERRI WILLIS is the Senior Financial Correspondent for SmartMoney magazine. She is an experienced business writer who was the winner of the Excellence in Retirement Savings Reporting award for 2001–which is given by the American University’s School of Communication and the Investment Company Institute’s Education Foundation. Willis, a 1992 Knight-Bagehot Fellow, can also be seen sharing her investment experience as a commentator on CNN, CNNfn, CNBC, and FOX News.

As financial markets waver and mortgage rates continue to hover at historic lows, investing in real estate makes more sense than ever–primarily because real estate follows its own cycle, independent of stocks and bonds. But for those with little real estate investment experience, entering into this arena can be intimidating as well as costly. Filled with expert insight that only SmartMoney could provide, The SmartMoney Guide to Real Estate Investing has been written to help you gain a firm understanding of the potentials and pitfalls of real estate investing.

Whether you’re looking to buy a home for yourself or as an investment, The SmartMoney Guide to Real Estate Investing clearly walks you through the process from start to finish. This comprehensive guide will show you how to take advantage of the options currently available in this market, guide you through the questions you should consider–from what is the best way to get financing to how you can increase the value of your new investment through renovation–and instruct you how to sell once you’ve decided to liquidate your investment.

Easy-to-read chapters arm you with everything you need to become a self-sufficient real estate investor. Topics discussed include:

• Researching the market
• Zeroing in on the right property
• Financing and managing your investment
• The best way to renovate
• How to get your ideal second home
• REIT investing

Making the most of the financial opportunities available to you is what SmartMoney is all about–whether it’s stocks, bonds, mutual funds or . . . real estate–and in today’s financial environment, a properly balanced portfolio must include a real estate component to reduce risk as well as garner higher returns. Whether you’re buying a vacation home, an apartment building, or shares in a real estate investment trust (REIT), The SmartMoney Guide to Real Estate Investing will provide you with the tools, techniques, and advice that will help you make better real estate investment decisions today and allow you to excel during future forays into this market.