Real estate books are most useful when you read with a specific question in mind. This list retains six titles and pairs each with an original research exercise for a Charleston, WV property owner. The notes are based on publisher descriptions and bibliographic information, not a claim that AM Investments has tested every strategy or reviewed the full text of all six books.
Choose a question before choosing books
- Planning: what criteria and resources do you need?
- Operations: who will manage the building and its costs?
- Projects: what work, documents and decisions remain?
1. The Millionaire Real Estate Investor
Gary Keller, Dave Jenks and Jay Papasan are the authors identified by McGraw Hill’s book page. Its description addresses investment criteria, transaction terms, team building and financial models. Treat its wealth-building language as the publisher’s framing rather than a forecast for your own property.
Reading exercise: Write a one-page set of purchase criteria and a separate list of assumptions requiring evidence. Identify the questions you would take to independent professionals before considering a commitment.
2. The Book on Rental Property Investing
Brandon Turner’s title is described by BiggerPockets Publishing as covering rental planning, property analysis, financing and team building. These are useful topic categories to investigate, not assurance that a rental is passive or profitable.
Reading exercise: Build a record request for one hypothetical property: collections, expenses, occupancy, condition, insurance questions and management duties. Use our rental property checklist alongside the books to keep missing evidence visible.
3. The ABCs of Real Estate Investing
Ken McElroy is the author; the Hachette audiobook listing identifies Garrett Sutton as the narrator, not a co-author. The publisher describes property evaluation, price, negotiation and management topics.
Reading exercise: Separate an advertised income figure from evidence of actual collections. List the expenses and unanswered questions that would need review before you could evaluate a proposed purchase.
4. The Real Book of Real Estate
The bibliographic listing for Robert Kiyosaki’s title describes a collection of contributions on real estate. A collection can introduce different professional perspectives; agreement with one contributor does not establish that a technique suits a particular transaction.
Reading exercise: Choose one topic and identify which independent professional would review it in West Virginia. Separate the author’s example from the documents and current requirements for an actual property.
5. The Art of Commercial Real Estate Leasing
R. Craig Coppola’s catalog entry and contents identify a focus on leasing, positioning, marketing, lease points and selecting a leasing agent. Commercial leasing books address a different transaction from selling an occupied house.
Reading exercise: Draft questions about who pays expenses, what services a proposed broker provides and which lease terms need independent review. Do not treat a sample clause as a ready-to-sign local document.
6. The Book on Flipping Houses
J Scott’s title is described by BiggerPockets Publishing’s book page as covering acquisition, project scope, budgets, schedules, contractors and resale. Promotional profit claims are not evidence of a future result in Charleston.
Reading exercise: Make separate lists for project spending and recurring ownership payments. Test a delay using clearly labeled invented numbers, then identify what evidence would be needed for an actual estimate.
Turn books into a checked action
- Record the title, edition and page or chapter.
- Write the idea in your own words.
- List the facts, quotes or legal review it would need.
- Choose one next research step; do not copy a strategy blindly.
Read selectively and verify what changes
Check the edition and distinguish general planning ideas from legal, tax, lending or market details that may have changed. Preview contents or use a library before buying if available. Our decision-review checklist for applying books helps translate educational material into questions and records. These books are optional research resources, not personalized investment advice or required purchases.
Explore AM Investments properties
Looking at an AM Investments property? Browse our available homes and contact us about the specific address and your questions. Call 304-250-9336. Availability and terms depend on the property. Arrange your own inspections and professional advice before deciding whether a purchase fits your plans.
Steve Coyne and Andrew McDavid own AM Investments. If you are considering selling a property to us, we are a prospective buyer when discussing our purchase offer. Compare the written terms with your alternatives. An inquiry does not commit you to a sale or purchase. Our own purchase offer is not an independent appraisal or legal advice.
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