The consummate beginner's guide to one of today's hottest investment vehicles. Real estate has rebounded from its decade-long slump to become one of today's most attractive investments-especially for investors looking for new ways to diversify their portfolios. This invaluable guide shows investors how to identify and cash in on the many lucrative opportunities offered by real estate. Totally revised and updated to reflect today's market, this second edition features convenient sidebar definitions and many easy-to-follow examples. It also offers in-depth coverage of timely topics such as real estate versus traditional investments, direct mortgage lending, REITs, capital gains and losses, speculation, rental trends, tax strategies, and more. Michael C. Thomsett (Bellingham, Washington) is a professional financial writer, an options trader, and a former management consultant for the securities industry. His other books include Getting Started in Bonds. Jean Thomsett (Bellingham, Washington) is a writer and coauthor of the first edition of this book.