Smart real estate investors need to know basic real estate math and calculations. If you have made the decision to become an investor, even a part-time one, then you need this book. One great benefit of this book is you can set up these formulas into an excel spreadsheet on your own computer. You need to know for example:
Is this property worth this price?
What will my monthly payment be?
What is my rate of return on investment?
What is my projected positive cash flow?
Will this rental property produce enough cash flow to pay all expenses?
What will my new payoff be if I add to the principal each month?
What is the projected value of this property in 10 years?
When will this investment be paid back?
What will this real estate option cost in real dollars today?
Should I lease option or purchase?
Real estate math skills are an integral part of becoming a truly successful investor. You need a competitive edge, and, by building your real estate math skills, this book will give it to you. These math skills are easily explained, and in no time you will be calculating such things as real estate investment analysis, valuation of income property, valuation of commercial real estate, vacancy loss projections, pay back period, time value of money, amortization schedule calculations, mortgage pay off, cash flow, net income/loss, option pricing, conversions, markup/discount, lease vs. buy analysis, evaluate tax sales, project income potential and cash flow, using Excel and other financial software programs, master the art of property valuation, and other financial calculations and tools.
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Although published in 2007—a year during which the Real Estate Market took a significant nose dive— The Real Estate Math Handbook: Simplified Solutions for the Real Estate Investor proves effective for serious investors, including any current survivors of the recent slump who had enough capital to stay in the game. Others who may find this book useful: individuals who currently own or wish to purchase a home, amateur students of mid-level to advanced mathematics, and prospective graduate students preparing for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
A comprehensive, mathematical tour-de-force; this book explains the A, B, C’s of Basic Mathematics, Interest, Investment Mathematics, Real Estate Mathematics, Income Property Valuation, Financing Mathematics, and related Excel Functions. A stellar introduction by Ken Lee, a Real Estate Broker, Author and Guru, excites and informs the reader. Since Lee includes a detailed description of each chapter’s contents, readers can either opt to work through the book start to finish, or select and study certain chapters of interest.
Strong aspects of this book include: clear, detailed explanations of complex mathematical concepts; corresponding tables of information and data; demonstrations of how to apply some of the mathematical principles described; and the Appendices, which include excellent quick references. Readers will also find the chapter on Excel functions a useful and efficient time saver. Otherwise, each chapter of the book is significantly lengthy; readers should allot several hours to work through each of them. Also, the book does not contain any practice exercises (besides the examples, which already reveal step by step instructions and answers), which might have aided the reader in immediately applying the skills that he or she learned from the book. Nonetheless, The Real Estate Math Handbook: Simplified Solutions for the Real Estate Investor is a must have for anyone serious about becoming a Real Estate Investor, and is highly recommended reading for anyone who currently owns or plans to purchase a home.
Comment by Angela Eward-Mangione — January 11, 2008 @ 7:04 pm
I think when it comes to real estate the book for the money is still “What Every Real Estate Investor Needs to Know About Cash Flow.” I quoted it my book “The 3 Secret Pillars of Wealth” because it is relatively simple and full of pratical math that would save new investors thousands.
Comment by jambur — January 12, 2008 @ 6:16 pm
5 /5 Stars
This book is intended as a reference for those in Real Estate professions, though it can be useful to anyone desiring a refresher course on both basic and more advanced mathematical applications. This book is very reader-friendly and explains practical math concepts that everyone should be familiar with, in an easy-to-follow manner.
Burrell takes the reader through the basics that make up the foundations of all math problems and then delves into mathematical concepts specifically pertaining to those in the real estate investment business. Building on the fundamentals, such as arithmetic, algebra, statistics and logic, Burrell gives the reader a review of principles necessary to understand more involved real estate mathematics. Other chapters include: interest math, investment math, income/property math, and analysis. There are plenty of examples to supplement each of the principles and the lengthy appendix includes a wealth of handy information that is perfect for using as a reference.
The best part of the book, however, is the chapter on computer applications. Burrell concludes this book with a chapter on how to perform the mathematical computations using Microsoft Office’s Excel program. This is necessary information since it shows the reader how to apply all of the concepts they learned in a manner in which they can use on a daily basis. Again, there are plenty of screen shots provided so the reader can follow along easily.
A highly recommended read that teaches math concepts you will actually utilize!
Comment by Lisa Rufle — January 14, 2008 @ 3:55 pm
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With today’s real estate prices and foreclosures constantly in the news, Jamaine Burrell’s The Real Estate Math Handbook: Simplified Solutions for the Real Estate Investor is a must-read for anyone considering purchasing a home. I have been a perspective home-buyer for over two years now. As I look at the housing market, and I keep in mind the kind of income I need to gravitate toward in order to afford some of the unsightly prices, I am constantly educating myself on how to make the American Dream of home ownership a reality. Burrell’s handbook offers essential information in helping one to know what risks to take in the real estate world before taking the plunge. The Simplified Solutions helps one to calculate all of the costs involved. I intend to use some of the formulas offered to help me as I move forward in my dream of being a landowner. Anyone working in the real estate market also would welcome Burrell’s knowledge: tip for the day: buy the book. Five Stars.
-Debra Wolf
Comment by Debra Wolf — January 29, 2008 @ 2:24 pm
The Real Estate Math Handbook is the ultimate guide for serious investors in real estate. Real estate agents would also be wise to study this book if they want to upgrade their skills. The book is hefty but complete. Pretty much all the math needed for real estate transactions is provided and common examples are given to highlight the principles. The author starts the book out as a math textbook, which is rather daunting and luckily can be skipped to go to the more pertinent chapters. The Table of Contents is broken down into the useful topics of Interest Rates, Investment Math, Real Estate Math, Income Property Valuation, Financing Math, and Exel Functions.
As a math book, the explanations and examples are clear and easily followed. The nice thing is that the examples are practical and relate to real situations that are common in real estate and investment transactions.
The Exel Functions chapter is a real bonus for a book of this type; it introduces the use of the computer program Exel to quickly solve equations.
This book also includes useful information that is not mathematical. Many of the terms and concepts used in real estate, investment, and banking are explained in layman’s terms. The author has covered all the material necessary for the reader to make an informed decision about a potential real estate investment.
The Real Estate Math Handbook is a great reference book and will enhance the knowledge of anyone serious about real estate.
5 stars
Comment by Kim Potter — February 1, 2008 @ 8:00 pm
“There is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come”
- Victor Hugo
Jamaine Burrell has just such a thought. At the height of our technological era she advises that the current trend in letting computers do all our thinking for us is archaic …and especially so in the volatile Real Estate market.
It remains an integral part of the American dream to own your own house. Although returns on property have had a very good run recently it seems like there may be trouble ahead! Of course the long term view in real estate remains positive but at the penultimate moment in a market boom, re-thinking what we know is definitely a good idea.
The Real estate math handbook offers a reintroduction to basic math explained within a solid structure and with an accessible layout.
In the preface Ken Lee (a top real estate broker) points out that the book is based on truths and not philosophies. Jamaine Burrell holds a BS in Math and is clearly very at ease with the facts.
From basic information about where we get our counting from (our fingers!) to quaint measuring units and complex terms (what is Escheat?) she guides us along in a friendly and easily digestible fashion to the really complex algebra problems. The book also contains quite a bit of legal and common sense advice and a couple of handy tables for conversions. Burrell argues that you will be capable of coming up with custom made solutions for your specific real estate opportunities and obstacles if you know the math. She certainly convinced me – and another beauty of this book is that it will lead to creative thinking in any business application.
It is advisable to spend quite a bit of time with the first chapter before moving onto the topics such as Interest Rates and Income Property Evaluation which are easily identified by the index. To avoid costly mistakes you will have to do extra research and practice. There is a final chapter explaining very clearly how to organize and utilize your newfound confidence by setting up an Excel spreadsheet for your project.
When you understand this book you will be able to answer all the questions:
Which property to buy? How to finance it? When to pay what? How to spend the profit? What will it be worth at any point? And of course you will have the benefit of knowing that you have done your homework, you will be ready to successfully address the constantly changing obstacles in the real estate market and you will do so on equal footing with the experts.
5 stars
Comment by Suzie Jones — February 5, 2008 @ 5:15 am
Not just for those in the real estate business, this book
covers the basic mathematical (including algebra) concepts the average
consumer deals with across the span of his/her lifetime such as
interest, investments, property valuation, and real estate transactions.
I loved the reviews of basic math in the beginning, the overview of
Excel spreadsheets, and the tables in the appendices at the end. I think
those inclusions would be very helpful to the average reader – they were
certainly helpful to me! Anyone who struggles with math may find the
math overviews to be highly enlightening. However, a ‘math whiz’ may
find that part of the book redundant or boring, so they may be better
off skipping it and moving forward into how to implement that knowledge
in the real world of consumer finance and real estate.
Bonus feature for me was that a long-forgotten method for figuring
percentages and filling in missing information was included in the book!
I have looked everywhere for that method and could never find it. Not
even my math teacher and professor friends knew it. This is a fabulous
reference book!
I give it 4 of 5 stars!
Comment by Daniella Nicole — March 25, 2008 @ 8:36 am
Im only on page 47 and Ive found 4 critical mathematical mistakes. And everyones giving 4 out of 5 or 5 out of 5 stars. Are you kidding me?
Comment by Shane — April 6, 2008 @ 11:20 am
pg 28 x=0.5 not 0.5 %
the three equations at the bottom of page 40 are not equal to each other
pg 47 and 48 the log distributive proterty is used incorrectly log1.55481*log10^2 should be added not multiplied
Comment by Shane — April 6, 2008 @ 11:24 am
is nobody else bothered by this…I wonder whats wrong in the real estate portion and how many people are going around using wrong math to buy real estate
Comment by Shane — April 6, 2008 @ 11:26 am
In much of America and throughout the world real estate has historically been a sound investment. Like any form of investment, some people make money and others don’t. There are many books, programs, and gurus out there that will tell consumers anything to convince them they too can get rich quick. Lifestyle coaches and motivational speakers say you’ve got to be an aggressive buyer, go with your gut instinct, be pro-active or some other buzz word of the month. The truth is that while some people get lucky investing blindly, the majority don’t. The problem is you only ever hear about the ones who get lucky; creating a very false impression of what real estate investment can be like. This book covers what a real investor needs to know and what skills they need to have in order to make informed, intelligent decisions in real estate investment.
Nowadays people are smartening up. They realize that to make money as an investor in any form you have to know your stuff. Extensive study and research are important in any field. Unfortunately many people still neglect the more technical ends of things, the mathematics. And with good reason as most of it goes over people’s heads. I know it does mine. It’s too complex and difficult to understand. So we look at columns of numbers and figures in reports which will decide whether we’re looking at a good investment or a bad one with only a passing understanding of what we’re seeing.
This book covers basic real estate investment mathematics from the ground up. It starts out at basic elementary level mathematics and progresses through algebra, statistics, valuing income property, calculating interest rates, and figuring out technical analyses done with Excel Spreadsheets. It is based very much in the philosophy that by understanding the principles behind these calculations you will have a better understanding of how your money is being used and will enable you to make much more informed decisions regarding real estate investments, which will result in greater dividends.
The book is well written and covers difficult subjects thoroughly. I found the consistent use of terminology helpful in following abstract concepts as anything dealing with mathematics does not come easily for me. It assumes you have no prior knowledge of the subject and is plainly written to be more easily understandable.
The layout is well structured allowing different subjects and concepts to be easily and quickly referenced. I particularly liked chapter two involving different interest rates and how they are calculated. Everyone can benefit from that sort of information, regardless of whether you’re an investor or not. All in all, this book is a great read that doesn’t seem dry like most works covering similar topics. It also serves as a great read for people who don’t use math much and need a refresher. I give it a perfect 5 out of 5 stars as I have found no flaws and have nothing negative to say about it. My only regret is not having this book in high school, it would’ve made my classes and SATs go a lot more smoothly.
Comment by John Albers — July 3, 2008 @ 5:53 pm
When I opened this book, I expected to find something similar to real estate math for dummies. However, this was not the case. While the author does have a solid mix of down to earth, straightforward examples and information, this book is definitely not for a novice – in either math or real estate.
The basic mathematical concepts covered were thorough and detailed, although the real world application examples left a bit to be desired. If you were new to the concepts presented in the data heavy, very academically written chapter on basic math, you’d never make it past the first several pages. I believe this holds true for the rest of the chapters as well, in that if you are truly a novice to any of the subject matter areas, you will still be too far over your head to really glean the benefit of the information presented.
In my opinion, this book is a great resource for two types of people – those that have business degrees, or have taken or are in the process of taking real estate courses. The math and concepts, while presented in a straight-forward way, don’t provide enough real world context to make it easy for a novice to understand. Additionally, the structure of the formulas and concepts were so academic, I find it hard to believe that anyone without some previous math experience would find this truly useful.
If you are looking for a handy reference guide to quickly refresh things you learned in school for investing, money, and finance, this book is a great resources. If you are a wannabe investor, thinking this book will help you part the clouds of mathematic wisdom for your future…you probably need to invest a lot more time and find some additional resources to assist.
Comment by Channon Cary — May 26, 2009 @ 5:55 pm