Are You Dumb Enough to Be Rich?: The Amazingly Simple Way to Make Millions in Real Estate

I have been investing in real estate for over 25 years. I've made much more than I have ever lost even in the current downturn. But the fact of the matter is dismal real estate markets are some of the best times to invest IF you know what to look for. That's the reason I love "Are You Dumb Enough To Be Rich." This book takes you gently by the hand and SHOWS YOU how to do it. If you're serious about really profiting in any real estate market... do yourself a favor and invest in this book.

Daniel Hall, Author
Speak On Cruise Ships: 8 Easy Steps To A Lifetime Of Free Luxury Cruises

Real estate investments have generated excellent results even in 'down' markets, and the second updated edition of Are You Dumb Enough to Be Rich? Explores these opportunities, providing a special 120-day plan for beginning investing in real estate. Even those with no real estate or financial background can follow the ideas and opportunities presented here, with a new edition including the author's new 'hot mapping' system for figuring out where to invest, and updated, concrete strategies for success.

Bill Barnett II has written one of the best books on the topic of how to succeed as a real estate investor. I'm always suspicious when a book says, essentially, "it's simple to make millions in real estate" -- suspicious not because I think making millions in real estate is complex, but because these books are generally selling something else (i.e. a seminar) or they are so simplistic they're embarrassing. While it's true, as some reviewers have pointed out, that Barnett excessively promotes his Web site and his seminar/coaching (it's somewhat alarming that publishers today allow so much of this), he nonetheless provides plenty of solid information that any adult could follow to success and riches.

I read most if not all of the books on this topic to consider them for live author interviews on my Real Estate Investors Hour and most of them never make the cut. Few of them make it to my "favorites" list as this one has. Barnett also proved to be an excellent interview.

There are too many good points in the book (including the author's 120 day program to success) to discuss all of them, but I'll especially talk about the author's point that you don't have to put your own money into real estate deals. I saw another reviewer who panned the book in disbelief of that point, but the reviewer is wrong. Barnett provides a credible script for seeking other people's money for investment purposes. And any of us who have done any real estate investing also have likely experienced the call from a distant friend or relative who asks, "If I send you some money, can you use it to buy real estate and pay me 10 to 12 percent?" And indeed we can . . . and we do. Anyone who doesn't believe that hasn't much experience with real estate investing. On the other hand, you do have to believe in the system and as Barnett points out you have to trust his script.

I also like what Barnett has written because so much of it is consistent with what we teach our franchisees in Success Systems Training. We go into far greater depth and we do much of the work for our franchisees, but a franchise also costs considerably more than a book! And the same truth applies: Those who trust in the script and believe in the system and work it will succeed. Those who do not generally fail or struggle.

I don't think you have to be "dumb enough" to make money as a real estate investor, or in this case to be "rich," but I do believe you must be "disciplined enough" to succeed. Most people are not. However, for those who are, this is one of the few books that can legitimately show you how to get rich as a real estate investor. And there's never been a better time to get started than right now!

John P. Hayes, Ph.D.
President & CEO
HomeVestors of America, Inc.
Host: Real Estate Investors Hour, WBAP, Dallas, TX
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I have to say that everything in this book is right on the money ! Especially the "pitfalls to avoid" notations in each chapter. As a novice real-estate investor, I have spent the last two years reading many RE investing books and attending RE seminars. This book holds most of the info that I've read and heard for over 2 years. It puts it in an easy to digest format. If your even considering buying real-estate, before spending thousands on seminars and the "get rich quick" schemes, I suggest you read this book and join a local RE investment group.

I had been investing in real estate by traditional means (i.e. bank loans) for over a year and having marginal success. I thought I had read every "how to" book on the market until I found Bill Barnett's. You always hear of his methods from other investors and in other books but never get a good layout of what YOU need to do to make it work. Using a few of the methods described in Bill's book, I bought a property 3 days after I put the book down and turned it for 22% in 5 weeks. I have been doing this for the past 4 months and re-read the book often as it serves as a good reference as well. The presentation of facts versus good fortune and other people's stories is what serparates this book from the thousands of others. There will always be risks involved with investing and there is no such thing as an "overnight" millionaire--but this book will certainly get you on your way. Highly recommended.