{"product_id":"9780786165278","title":"Real Estate and Collectibles","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe story of \u003ci\u003egreat \u003cb\u003ereal estate\u003c\/b\u003e investors\u003c\/i\u003e is a tale of superb salesmanship, public relations, politicking, dealmaking, risk taking and creative financing. Manhattan has by far the greatest concentration of real estate value in the U.S.; fortunes have been made there by the likes of \u003ci\u003eJohn Jacob Astor, Harry Black, Fred French, William Zeckenforf, \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eHarry Helmsley\u003c\/i\u003e. Other U.S. real estate tycoons include \u003ci\u003eWilliam Levitt, Trammell Crow, \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eDonald Bren\u003c\/i\u003e. These investors have been shrewd manipulators of mortgages, down payments, and cash flows-though occupancy rates, tax structure, and government assistance have frequently been vital parts of the recipe for real estate success.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn unusual investment category is that of \u003cb\u003ecollectibles\u003c\/b\u003e (sometimes known as '\u003ci\u003eportable wealth\u003c\/i\u003e') - for which value depends on sentiment and other intangible factors. For the hobbyist, collectibles forge a link with the past, with far-away places, or with well-known people; a collection is a kind of tangible memory. Collecting also satisfies a human desire to own the \u003ci\u003ebest\u003c\/i\u003e, the \u003ci\u003emost\u003c\/i\u003e, or the \u003ci\u003eonly\u003c\/i\u003e specimen of things that are sought by others. Coins, stamps, baseball cards, and the various decorative arts (e.g. paintings, sculpture, antiques, ect.) all have proven to be popular with investors. Collectors seek not only a chance for a return on investment-but also the sheer joy of owning some of the finer things of life.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Knowledge Products, Inc.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47094603383024,"sku":"9780786165278","price":11.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9780786165278_p0.jpg?v=1763664692","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9780786165278","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}