> Can't comment on the number of books
> written... only the number of books
> published.

I don't think that is relevant--surely how many books are being bought is what is important.
That being so, then Amazon would show you that Real Estate books are selling more than Share Market books.

Bill Myers, surely the master of the crystal ball, reported a while ago that Real Estate was in 6 of the top 10 sellers on Amazon.
That means people are buying books and are interested in Real Estate.

> As they are publishing more stock market
> books, it would appear stock market books
> outsell real estate books.

Don't agree.
Check on Amazon.
You are assuming this.

> Because of the media.

???

> When was the last time you heard the mass
> media mention anything about any kind of
> instant wealth due to property?

Or shares?
Surely most understand that shares and real Estate take several years before compounding steps in?

> People know property is a buy and hold
> thing. They want it to be faster and cost
> less.

I think most people realise shares is buy and hold too.

In Sydney it is buy and hold not too long!
The Real Estate is growing beyond belief.
In 10 years time the medium house price will be close to a million dollars.

But with all the wealth creation seminars (check out the latest Wealth Creator magazine) most people are starting to realise that borrowing 100% on your properties equity and using leverage will make you rich faster than most other ways.

In shares, the bank has the option of forcing you to sell if the price drops beyond a certain point etc.

>Enter the "No Money Down" idea.
> Enter the "Subject-To" and
> "Lease Option." Enter
> "Wholesaling." Satisfies the
> instant gratification crowd.

The No money down bit means you can borrow 100% for maximum leverage. Not instant wealth.

> Something a lot of the RE sellers mention is
> their dislike of fixing toilets. And so they
> hire a property manager.

> This has always puzzled me. If your toilet
> is broken, call a plumber - that's what the
> property manager does.

Maybe they need a tax break and want to claim more losses aka Fringe benefits tax.

> Anyway. The difference is: stocks take far
> less cash, is quicker and easier to get
> into, involves zero negotiating, and doesn't
> require any bank red tape.

But banks will lend you 100% of costs for a property, without telling you to sell it if it drops below a certain price as with shares.

> Property, on the other hand, requires money
> (if not yours than someone else's), time,
> bank red tape, title companies and/or
> settlement people, negotiating, time, money
> spent on advertising, credit checks,
> employer checks, did I mention time?
> Research, education and learning, time, and
> sometimes real estate agents.

> Negotiating. Bank red tape. Real estate
> agents. SLOW turnaround. Long Time. Money.
> Everything people hate. That's what real
> estate investing means.

All of this is infinitely easier for the pleb in the street to handle than buying shares--because everyone knows that they dont make land anymore.
We all know real estate goes up....a simple supply and demand thing. Most people do not have a clue how the share market works and consider it to be a thing shrouded in mystery.

About 70% of the poulation in Australia own a house, compared to the 40% odd percent that own shares.

> Go to the discussion boards devoted to each
> topic - real estate vs stocks. See the
> million real estate questions... here is a
> house and they sellers want $350k, it has
> zero equity, will rent for half the mortgage
> payment and is about to go into
> forclosure... how can I buy it? Or, is there
> a deal here? Or, I have bought it subject-to
> now what do I do?

All this proves is that there is room for a product to simplify the process.
This is a basic product creation enviroment.

> Basic hand holding questions. Questions of
> people looking for an easy way. Questions
> from people who can't be bothered reading
> archives or spending a few bucks on a real
> estate book.

Hence the videos/DVD's /seminars on wealth creation to cut thru all that mumbo jumbo and MAKE IT EASY.

> Don't see anyone asking such basic questions
> on stock market boards? Don't see people
> saying, "XYZ shares went up 1 cent
> today after falling $25 over the last two
> months, should I buy them now?" (At
> least not on the stock boards I go to.)

That should be a clue not to create a shares made simple product then.

> It's the same reason why in stock market
> investing, the main thrust... the main way
> people want to invest their money... is in
> quick turn stuff. They can see the success
> that long term Buffett-style stock market
> investing has... they even hear the stories
> of the traders who go $100k in the hole in
> one day... but the lure of the quick and
> easy overshadows all of that. Just like the
> lure of the quick and easy - subject-to,
> wholesaling, lease/option, no money down -
> oversadows the 25% down thus creating a
> positive cashflow, the book you mentioned
> talks about (I beleive that's its basic
> concept. Please correct me if I am wrong).

I don't agree with you.
I don't think most people think you can get rich overnight with shares.
That is why much more people buy real estate--look at the figures.

> And the final reason... which would
> certainly apply to some people... is one of
> stigma. Being a landlord vs being a stock
> market investor.
I have never heard this before.
I bought my first property in 1990 without having a clue.
Now I have several properties worth well over $1 million. Only in the last 2 years have I realised what I should have been doing.
Real Estate has always been the easiest way for the average person to create substantial wealth.

Tom B.