ROB LORD

Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing: The Blueprint To Quitting Your Job With Real Estate - Even Without Experience Or Cash Paperback – July 16, 2018

by Michael Blank (Author)

4.6 out of 5 stars

1,104 ratings

Rick Tanguay

5.0 out of 5 stars

What you need to overcome your fears and SUCCEED in real estate!

Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2018

Verified Purchase

Like many people, I have been interested in real estate investing for a long time but started with 1-4 unit (aka single-family) properties because they seemed “touchable.” I wanted to buy apartment buildings, but they just seemed too big, I didn’t have the money, knowledge, or experience to do THAT. After years of trudging, I realized I just wasn’t making progress fast enough with single-family properties to reach my financial freedom goals in this lifetime. I decided to step back and reassess my plan. In so doing, I came to the conclusion that the only way to reach my goals was with apartment buildings. I didn’t know how I was going to do that, but I had to find a way.

Enter Michael Blank. I discovered him on the BiggerPockets forum and began consuming his articles and podcasts. I wish I had been introduced to this information years ago!! Since then I have become one of his students, and purchased several of his courses. The information is fantastic, well rounded, and detailed.

When I discovered Michael was writing this book, I was excited to read it, and it did not disappoint. In it he covers many key aspects of apartment building investing, the ones that most of us probably feel are preventing us from succeeding, or even trying to invest in this real estate category.

He starts with his personal story (it is nice to hear that others have faced adversity and still succeeded). Then he covers what is necessary to do your first deal, how to raise the money you need by developing an investor network (one of the key differences between single-family properties and multifamily (5+ unit) properties is that it is much easier to get investor capital for multifamily). The best way to find deals, how to analyze deals, and how to get past your personal limiting beliefs with what he calls the Vision Map. Then he outlines how to take your vision, and use it to create “bite-sized” steps to accomplish each day so you can reach your larger goal. Looking out 6-12 months makes most of us freeze in overwhelm, and his process helps overcome this. Then in the final section he covers the details of deal negotiation, performing due diligence, closing escrow, and managing the property. There are just too many components to write about, but all of it is well written and extremely informative.

This is a must read if you are even considering real estate investing. I wish I had this book available years ago when I started in single-family. I would have saved countless hours, been much more successful, and by now accomplished my goal.

Annie Dickerson

5.0 out of 5 stars

Ready to transform your life? This book will do just that.

Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2018

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I've read a lot of real estate investing books and listened to a lot of podcasts, and I can honestly say that this is one of the most practical and easy-to-follow guides on how to transform your life and achieve financial freedom through real estate investing.

Michael writes with great energy and conviction, and it's clear he really cares about his readers' success. His recommendations are backed by lots of real world stories, including those of students he has coached. This book guides you through a tried and true plan for achieving financial freedom within 3-5 years, the same plan that dozens of Michael's students have used to succeed in this space.

Not only that, unlike other books of this genre that stay high level, Michael gets down to the nitty gritty, including actual scripts for what you should say when you're on the phone with brokers, so you don't sound like a newbie. You'll definitely want to take notes as you're reading, because the scripts and action plans in this book are game changers.

All that being said, real estate investing is hard work, and Michael doesn't sugar coat that. Instead, he encourages you throughout the book, provides real world success stories, and gives you step-by-step action plans (including a full companion course!) so that this book will truly transform your life.

22 people found this helpful

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Kuzushi

5.0 out of 5 stars

Practical advice

Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2018

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I am one of Michael's students, but I still found a lot of things in here I did not know. I read this book with a notepad handy so I can put his ideas to use immediately. Let's face it most of us don't have hundreds of thousands of dollars to buy apartment buildings. Michael shows you how to use syndication to acquire and control large multi family real estate so you too can quit the "rat race" of a 9 to 5 job.

24 people found this helpful

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Melococo

5.0 out of 5 stars

Great book just get through the first 40 pages or so

Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2020

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I was about to return the book because the first 40 pages or so were super annoying. Looks like a giant sells pitch with amazing stories of people who went from being a cashier at 7 Eleven to a millionaire...with no actual explanation as to how or I things like: “if I could tell you the secret to (blank)... just annoying. However, I remember reading a comment saying to keep reading, so I did and the book is actually very very good! Great content, extremely informative and I like his outlook on life. It has really helped to visualize what going down the path of real state would look like, what to expect and what to look for. Will be keeping as reference for when I’m ready to start.

8 people found this helpful

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D. Casey

5.0 out of 5 stars

An amazing book for anyone interested in rising above the masses.

Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2018

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Lot's of spot on detail about what any person, experienced or not, needs to do in order to raise money, find commercial properties, perform analysis on a property's worth, perform due diligence, finding a team that will help you to be credible without already having a track record, to finally closing a deal. I plan on reading this book a second time to make sure it all sinks in well. I also want to be coached by Michael or someone from his team. Preparing for that now. Anything worth doing will require work, this is not a get rich quick book. It offers practical and extremely useful tips and tricks of this trade to help anyone reach great heights in the least amount of time. Michael poured his heart and soul into this book and I am very grateful he did. Thank you, Michael. Hope to work with you soon.

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Philip L

5.0 out of 5 stars

A great guide to gain confidence to make your first deal!

Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2018

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Michael’s approach to multi family is sensible and easy to digest. Is it a crash course on analytics, ratio analysis and how to become a financial maven in real estate?...no. That takes work and practice. As Michael reiterated throughout the book -the key is getting your first deal done. I’ve been in the commercial real estate business for 25 years and what this book delivers is how to think about the many soft skills that helps you to build you confidence in approaching multi family real estate investing. It outlines the important steps and it gives you great tips on what to do and not to do. It is also accompanied by his companion course that does go into a lot of detail without spending the hundreds, if not thousands of dollars that many programs charge. Almost every chapter has a reference to his online videos and samples of the things you need to know and the tools to use. If you take the time to really check out Michael Blank, you will see he has interviewed hundreds of people on his podcasts on a weekly basis from all 4 corners of the multi family real estate world. Lenders, brokers, other gurus, investors, tax experts, contractors and everyday people who have made investing in multi family their livelihood. You can’t go wrong with this book. Anyone who thinks it’s a waste of time and money has missed the point of this book. We all want to connect with someone just like us, who have the same dreams, ambitions, and fears. Michael introduces you to the why and how without being boring or overselling. I highly recommend it.

11 people found this helpful

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Jack Middleton

5.0 out of 5 stars

This is the “holy grail” of building wealth through multi-family investing!

Reviewed in the United States on August 17, 2018

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Wow! This is a must have book for anyone wanting to deal with real estate in a big way.

I wish this book would have been available two years ago when I decided to learn about multi family investing!

This is, by far, the best book on the subject. The secrets of investing have been revealed, finally.

I would have paid more than the price of this book just for the secrets revealed in chapter 4 (secret #2).

Get this step-by-step guide and you won’t be disappointed.

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Julie

5.0 out of 5 stars

The reference book for newbies and reminder for experienced investors

Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2019

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My husband didn't understand the world I lived in until he read this book! It's a FANTASTIC book for those looking for a general understanding of investing in the multifamily sector. Blank offers a step-by-step blueprint for those seeking financial freedom through investing in multifamily assets. Clearly written, it's simple to understand the basics needed to enter and succeed in real estate investing.

Motivated readers can "plug and play" with his basic formula. Criticized by some for not being more riddled with more advanced formulas...remember...sometimes details bog fledglings from success.

Blank's simplicity should remind ALL readers that despite the many details that present themselves in large scale investing, the basics are ALWAYS enough to gain success.

Those well along in their investment journey would do well to revisit these basics (because often we forget the foundation) to (1) remember their genesis moment (2) celebrate their journey (3) know a tool to help others begin their journey (I can recount sales meetings where successful and experienced people were brought to their knees because they forgot the basics!) Basics matter for everyone!

If you're new and beginning your journey- THIS IS YOUR REFERENCE BOOK!

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Tony

5.0 out of 5 stars

One of the top 5 books every real estate investor should own

Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2018

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Get ready for a tectonic mind shift when you read this book. This book will teach you about multi-family investing and why it should be a part of your wealth strategy. The author doesn’t stop there. He then goes on to provide you with concrete, approachable steps that anyone can take in order to purchase their first multi-family investment. This book lets you see behind the curtain and discover how successful real estate investors make it happen. The author guides you step by step through the process and provides valuable advice for avoiding pitfalls and finding success. It is packed cover to cover with gold and if that wasn’t enough, it comes with a companion course that includes additional learning resources and material. The book is eye opening, inspiring, motivational and most importantly, actionable. It’s one of my top 5 real estate investing books.

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Christopher M. Leo

5.0 out of 5 stars

This might be THE pivotal book for one's life

Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2019

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Outside of Kiyosaki's Rich Dad, Poor Dad, I'm not sure if there's a better book out there that pierces the mind and heart when it comes to challenging assumptions about how to build lives of financial freedom and happiness (as opposed to restriction and regret). I saw some reviews on here that were "negative," and, honestly, it probably says more about the reviewer's mindset than it does about the book's quality. Is the book "exhaustive"? Of course not, and Michael Blank doesn't claim that it is. But, the book is the perfect blend of theory and practice. Michael is very articulate, very helpful, very gracious, very challenging, and very inspirational. It's a must-read for anyone who doesn't want to look back on his/her life and wish that s/he had "done more" in regard to building a life of financial freedom. Five stars forever....

8 people found this helpful

Stephen Brown

5.0 out of 5 stars

Great book to start you down your path to Financial Freedom!

Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2020

Verified Purchase

I have read this book twice now... once a couple years or so ago and then I just finished it again. The first time I read it, I was just starting my journey into real estate investing and it was a little overwhelming to think about multi family investing, so I started down the path of single family rentals and my first one was a duplex but with a SFR mind-set. I then saw the difficulty in scaling that approach. I have struggled with "shinny object syndrome" and have looked into short term nightly rentals, residential assisted living (RAL), and a few other things but, I ended up back on multi family, even though I think RAL is a great niche in the path of progress. I think there are many options out there for anyone who wants to exit the rat race and achieve financial freedom. I feel this book gives you a taste of how powerful the right education from real teachers who are doing what you want to do, truly is. I have been listening to Michael's podcast and am committed to moving forward with my "WHY" to get through the hard, trying times in order to buy back my time and freedom with multi family investing! I look forward to working with Michael more closely and learning all I can from his wealth of knowledge!!

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Ola Dantis

5.0 out of 5 stars

A must buy for all real estate investors!

Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2018

Verified Purchase

As an avid listener to the Apartment Building Investing podcast and a fellow podcaster and Apartment Building investor myself, I can unequivocally say that I learnt a ton from this book.

First, I really loved the succinctness of this book. Many of the real estate books try to jam all strategies and/or tactics into a one book, an approach with its own merits. However, many readers will end up dropping the book before finishing it. With this book, I was able to read it relatively quickly and kept going back to information and tips that were frankly one of the best in the industry.

Secondly, I read another review below saying the book did not go in-depth with Cap Rates and IRRs. Obviously, this reader either did not sign up for the FREE Companion course that came with the book or this reader has never listened to one single episode of Michael’s podcast or used his amazing SDA tool to analyze and make offers on deals. I’m certain that this reader has done neither. Moreover, definitions for Cap Rates and IRRs are at your finger tips using Google. More importantly, when I talk to everyday people who are looking to invest, they don’t know or care about IRRs, but they usually want to know how much am I making or when am I going to get my money back.

Lastly, one of my favorite tips in the book is scripts. Now, you might think what?!!! Yes, scripts are everything from how to talk to brokers and how to ace your first investor meetings. Not sure if it was Tony Robbins who said “the quality of the communication determines the success of your life”. The scripts in this book are simple but effective. I used some already this past weeks and it just works!

As an experienced real estate investor and syndicator, I was shocked so many new things! What an amazing book! To conclude, if you are thinking of starting your journey in the game buy this book and follow the steps, don’t cut corners. Good luck!

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Colorado Family

5.0 out of 5 stars

All the details you need...you just need to apply the action!

Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2018

Verified Purchase

Are you ready to take control of your financial life? Have you thought multifamily real estate just might be the vehicle for you? If so, let Michael Blank take you on the step-by-step journey of how you can make this dream a reality. Michael lays out all the pertinent steps to acquiring your first, or next, multifamily community in great detail. One of the best books I've seen out there on this subject with no fluff and dives right into the details. If the book isn't enough, Michael has also provided a free companion course to give you even more insight into the details that were hard to lay out in the book. The tools are all there...the only requirement left is for you to take consistent action with them and make your dreams a reality!

2 people found this helpful

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Tony Snow

5.0 out of 5 stars

THE ONLY APARTMENT RENTAL BOOK YOU NEED TO READ NOW!!!!

Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2021

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The book was hands down a great read and guide to what I needed. I am a to the point person and Michael wrote this book with both passion and simplicity in its most valuable form. The companion course is as promised the best real estate resource I have ever used. His spreadsheets came without confusing formulas, but were presented in a mastery like way. I appreciate Michael for writing this book in a no non-sense fashion for people like me who needs to get down to business. I run two Airbnb's, but because I was able to read through the book within two days, I am syndicating my first apartment deal as I type this review. Thanks Again Michael you are resourceful and awesome.

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Jazmyn Blockson

5.0 out of 5 stars

Good book but lacks representation

Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2020

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This book will be a great resource to me when I start investing in multifamily properties. It gave me details on real-life examples that my textbooks did not. I have a master’s degree in real estate development and finance. So I bought the book to give me the step-by-step instructions for how to start investing right away. That is what this book did. My only complaint is that the book seems to be written for men. There are few stories about female investors. And all of the coaches pictured are whites males. So I am not going to purchase the programs or coaching services because of lack of representation. I do not need the extra services anyway because of my education and network, thankfully.

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Li Longchuan

5.0 out of 5 stars

A how-to book between Rich Dad Poor Dad and an operation manual for apt building investing

Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2020

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I listened to Michael's podcast a year ago and recently, I decided to focus more on apartment building investing and came across this book. Although the book is full of sale pitches for his (supposedly expensive) courses, I have to say that Michael did an excellent job walking readers through the apt building investing. Moreover, he seems to be genuinely happy seeing other people chasing their dreams via apartment building investment. Compared to Rich Dad Poor Dad, this book definitely gives more how-to steps/tips on setting up your Vision Maps, raising money, doing due diligence, etc., but is general enough so that it doesn't put you into sleep by giving out all terminologies in commercial real estate.

Overall, I like this book a lot and think it will get me started on CRE. I will test out his the Law of First Deal and may come back reviewing it again. :-)

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Bronson H.

5.0 out of 5 stars

The value here is unbelievable!

Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2018

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I have been a real estate investor for over 10 years and am venturing into multifamily and I have LOVED all of Michael Blank's content. My cousin (who owns 1400 units) recommended Michael to me and I have been very pleased with what I have learned. In this book, Michael lays out all the secret sauce to help make multifamily deals happen. I like that he gives tips on how to find properties, how to raise money from others, and the diligence process. For anyone looking to get into multifamily properties, I strongly suggest you start here!

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yvonco

5.0 out of 5 stars

You see how million dollar deals are doable.

Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2019

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I've never even considered being able to purchase multifamily apartments because of the thought that I personally need millions of dollars or that I personally need to have the experience. This book let's me see that if I establish a team of real estate pro people around me with their own skill set it takes the focus and pressure off of me and spreads it to my team. The millions of dollars to get the apartment is much more likely to come when you have a team of people and you look at deals and know what to look for. The book provides a progression to doing deals with small steps that anyone can do to accomplish their goal of getting into mulitfamily investing.

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Tracie LeMere

5.0 out of 5 stars

Every step in the process is covered

Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2018

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Michael's book covers all the needed steps to walk you through the process of acquiring multifamily properties. He offers great references to other materials that will provide an even more in depth knowledge on specific subjects. This book is a great starting point for those interested in understanding the multifamily. I have personally used this process to evaluate deals and acquire multifamily properties. The goal is to educate and take action, this book will help you achieve success in multifamily properties.

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Chirag Hathiramani

5.0 out of 5 stars

A systematic, articulate and action-oriented guide to multifamily syndication

Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2018

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Fantastic book that delivers a proven blueprint to creating financial freedom through multifamily syndication. Big ideas are broken down into their simplest components and made readily executable. The book is chock full of examples, scripts, formulas and processes that you can implement immediately. For example, there is a detailed breakdown of the deal, equity sourcing, and team building processes as well as an exhaustive review of the step-by-step mechanics and considerations to be noted at each point in the process. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is serious about taking control of their financial destiny through the vehicle of apartment investing and syndication.

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klfjr

5.0 out of 5 stars

Awesome Book!

Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2020

Verified Purchase

Michael literally provides you with a step-by-step path to obtaining properties. He leaves nothing to the imagination and holds your hand thru the process every step of the way. May seem overwhelming but he even explains how to break it down in chunks to take small steps that amount to huge results. Can't wait to apply what I just learned!

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Amazon Customer

5.0 out of 5 stars

A motivating and clarifying book for any aspiring multifamily investor

Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2018

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I love this book! I've listened to every available episode of Michael's podcast over the past several months and ended up reading his book in one day. It's extremely motivating and it clarifies the mysteries on how the heck this stuff works. I love how it focuses on the subjects most material to understanding the structure of a deal and doesn't waste time over explaining simple concepts, it lets the reader know what they need to know and how to find out more. I'm not a complete beginner, I have a few duplexes and have done several deals. However, I acquired everything through private debt partners or traditional financing. This book emphasizes a better way (in my newly formed opinion) to do this: equity partners. I'm excited to get started!

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Lea

5.0 out of 5 stars

Easy to read and can feel the honest of the author

Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2018

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Except the book paper has good quality which i like, I finished half the book just one night because so easy to follow and read, and I feel i was looking for answers which i found from this book, so I can't put it down. For anyone like me who already have some rental and experience, and realized the power of apt should read this book and get rid of some mysteries for apt and start to mentally active and prepare for apt. Will share the book with family members during holiday also.

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Amazon Customer

5.0 out of 5 stars

One of the best Multi family Real Estate books on the market!

Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2018

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Absolutely one of the best books out there to learn about Multi Family Real Estate Syndication. This book really changed my entire focus from Single Family to Multi Family. Michael has a way of taking something you would think would be complicated and making it very digestible. If the book wasn't already enough, Michael also built a companion course that goes hand in hand with the book where you can find templates and videos that walk you through what he talks about. I would 100% recommend reading this book if you're thinking of making the switch to Multifamily or getting into Real Estate in general.

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Aheazy

5.0 out of 5 stars

Excellent

Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2018

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I thought I knew everything(just kidding) but this book taught me a thing or two. I really enjoyed the author's personal story and how other investors stories were added. I also have a hard copy of the book and I'll use it as a reference. This book would be a good giveaway for fellow investors interested in real estate.

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SMFC

5.0 out of 5 stars

Clear, Concise, and Comprehensive

Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2021

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I chose to read this book and author because my investing partner (my spouse) recommended it. We want to get into the kind of freedom Michael makes seem possible and (more importantly) probable.

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Investment Hungry

5.0 out of 5 stars

Great book and I would definitely recommend buying it!

Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2020

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I didn't think that I would enjoy this book at all, but it turned out to be fantastic. I've read some negative reviews about the book prior to buying, but I found that it provided a very good foundation on multifamily investing. Foundation is the operative term because if you want greater detail on balance sheet and quantitative analysis, buy a college text book. I'll definitely read this book again as a reference.

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Amazon Customer

5.0 out of 5 stars

Gave me hope!!

Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2021

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This book has given me the hope, courage and best education to start on my apartment investing journey.I have a W2 stressful job for over 2 decades now..I spend more time at work than spending quality time with my family…I have realized that thru multifamily investing, I will be able to achieve freedom from my W2 job, and I have decided to start this journey and accomplish the goal in less than a year. Thank you Michael Blank!!!! More blessings to you and your family, thank you for sharing your experiences.

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Ricardo Gerena

5.0 out of 5 stars

Game Changer

Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2018

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This book is a game changer for the average person because it educates them on how to generate passive income through multi family investments. Michael Blank guide's the reader through the entire process from A-Z without missing a beat. And as a Realtor I personally use his syndication analyzer to review deals so if your looking for something that will lead to financial freedom this is definitely the SYSTEM!! Knowledge is power........but only if you use it!! With those tools you can be financially free in 5yrs.

Daniel S Beers

5.0 out of 5 stars

Awesome

Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2021

Verified Purchase

Awesome book. Got me thinking about commercial real estate and really got the wheels moving after a dry spell of not investing in over a year

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