After two decades of being a successful Real Estate Entrepreneur, Investor, Real Estate Broker, and former Software CEO, Ed Ross decided to retire at age 41 and work at ways to give back to society. Doing philanthropy helped fulfill and reward his new found free time. He continued to seek new ways to help people. One way he did this was through sharing his real estate successes and experiences with just about anyone who would listen.
He spent much of his time teaching people how to avoid purchasing a property that might loose its value in a slower market. First hand experience with this had allowed him to gain knowledge at using readily available statistical information on demographics to forecast future property appreciation. This includes the analysis of many factors including but not limited to employment, schooling, crime rates, and housing statistics.
A close friend suggested that he put his knowledge in the form of a book for all to learn, so he did ("THE SPILL ZONE" book). He further wanted to provide his primary knowledge of forecasting future property value to the general public free of charge. The best way to provide this was by creating a model where a property forecast could be given to anyone interested, thus thespillzone.comTM.
Bucky Fox edited "The Spill Zone." He's the chief of BuckyFox.com and an editor at Investor's Business Daily. His take on Ed Ross' book:
"The Spill Zone" could easily be called The Spell Zone. Ed Ross spells out it all out so clearly, I'm in the zone. The real estate zone.
As a layman, I find "The Spill Zone" as easy to grasp as building blocks. Ross types out the foundation, adds clear windows to his system and caps it off with results. After reading his blueprint, I hope to traipse through the door toward real estate riches.
Ross addresses two points cogently:
- Real estate flows through crests and droughts, each lasting about seven years. The last wave went from 1998 to 2005. Now we're facing a low tide. Home buyers need to deal with such cycles the way they experience bull and bear markets on Wall Street.
- When a buyer searches for a home as an investment, remember whom you would be eventually selling to. A one-bedroom condo would draw interest from a bachelor. That's about it. A five-bedroom house would net that bachelor, a young couple, a booming family, the works. I used this Ross rule while searching for a house in Las Vegas recently.
"The Spill Zone" offers plenty of more points. When you're through reading, you'll start spelling out your own ideas in the real estate zone.
Robin Lane, attorney and author, New York City:
Wow! You've done an amazing job.
I stayed up last night finishing "The Spill Zone" because I didn't want to stop. Your writing is so clear and concise, the ideas and information are original, extremely well organized, and you have more than succeeded in doing what you planned to do. That's what people are looking for — not a textbook; they've had to read too many of those. The hope and tools and concrete examples of your story, your journey, your life lessons that led to your incredible success — that's the magic.
Congratulations! You did something memorable with your "retirement," with the freedom you earned and worked for so hard. Your book delivers everything you say it will.
Sherry Howard, private investigator, Orange, California:
As a novice investor, I found myself in a position of having to do a 1031 tax exchange. Everyone was telling me buy here or invest there. My head was swimming with information, and in no time I was in overload. Then I heard about "The Spill Zone." Using "The Spill Zone" method, it was a piece of cake to determine if properties I was interested in were right for me. Thank you, Ed Ross, for writing and creating "The Spill Zone."
Robin Miller, accountant enrolled agent, Mission Viejo, California:
Mr. Ross is an inspiration to any real estate investor. For the past several years, my close friends, colleagues and I have drawn upon him for guidance in property investing. "The Spill Zone" website and book have the answers to all of our questions from the past and for the future. Ed Ross is the leading authority on this subject. I would turn to him again and again.
Joseph T., recent college graduate, Holiday, Florida:
Just after one year of using the model, my family has purchased three homes and received over 45% in appreciation. I was able to take a second mortgage out and pay off the bulk of my debt. Meanwhile, I am in the real estate business and enjoying it. This really works.
Michael S., senior portfolio property manager, Tampa, Florida:
For the past couple of years I have subscribed to the methods in "The Spill Zone" book. I have turned $30,000 into over $300,000, and this is just the beginning.
