I have received a number of emails requesting more information about me so I will give you a mini-biography here.
I practiced real estate law for nearly twenty years before "retiring" to the state of Washington in 2004. I picked Washington since I love the city of Seattle and also because I was not licensed as an attorney in the state. I did not want the temptation to practice law in my new home. I don't represent law clients any longer or do any kinds of legal work so please don't ask.
I am currently a full-time investor. I also enjoy writing and speaking on real estate investment and development issues and am mostly known for my website www.investinginland.com which I maintained from 2001-2007 and will be launching once again very soon.
As a real estate professional I have worked on hundreds of real estate projects since 1982 of all sizes, from single family rehabs and flips to large scale development projects.
I have worked with hundreds of clients over the years from individual investors to Fortune 500 companies.
I have worked on real estate projects all over the world, including in most parts of the United States, Europe, South Africa, and Latin America.
My first rehab was a six unit apartment building while I was still in law school.
I started active land development in 1996 after buying a home with a second lot attached.
I am an avid investor in real estate, stocks, and bonds. I believe the investment process is identical for all classes of equities and debts. Buy below intrinsic value.
I am a harsh critic of so-called "creative real estate" and real estate get-rich-quick schemes. Most people new to real estate, the target market for these instant wealth home study courses, seminars, and mentoring programs, do not know these ideas are worthless, dangerous, and even illegal. They also do not know that many of the gurus and authors who sell these programs have absolutely no experience in real estate at all.
I am the author of INVESTING IN LAND, the most widely sold real estate book in publishing history with sales in more than 91 countries around the world. The original version of this book was published in 2001 and a completely new and revised edition is being released in 2010.
My hobbies are horses, sailboats, live music, and history.
I am very active in a number of historic preservation efforts, particularly managing the development of Civil War battlefields and the rescue and revitalization of historic homes and commercial buildings.
To get a brief idea on my personal investment philosophy, read this article.
Robert J. Abalos, Esq.
