* Jack tracks down profitable investing strategies for his newsletter, Real Estate Investor’s Monthly ($125; 342 Bryan Drive, Alamo, CA 94507). You can see a free copy on his Web site, www.johntreed.com. For nuts-and-bolts tutorials, I recommend one or more of his 20 invaluable real estate investing books, including How to Get Started in Real Estate Investment, and, for people doing lease-to-own options (page 990), Single-Family Lease Options.

* Your adjusted basis amounts to your cost plus any improvements you made to the property minus all the depreciation deductions you have claimed or could have claimed, and—well, it goes on. See an accountant.