For author and real estate owner Elaine Zimmerman and for an ever-increasing number of individuals -- especially women -- this grim reality has been all too familiar. For Elaine, left with little money and no financial plan after divorce, a comfortable retirement seemed an impossible dream. She realized, as we all do eventually, that Social Security and company retirement plans aren't sufficient to ensure financial secruity. So Elaine followed a friend's example and took the first step toward controlling her financial future. She found a bank that financed her postdivorce home at a lower interest rate and, within three years, owned three houses worth a half million dollars. Now, with Elaine's practical, detailed, step-by-step plan for financial security through real estate investing, every woman -- and man -- can do it, too. If you run a household, bargain-hunt and know how to stretch a dollar, you can start with the plan. Work on real estate investing on weekends and during the evenings, while keeping your regular job Purchase homes far below market value Buy in the best part of town for higher long-term appreciation Rent your houses for the amount of the mortgage with taxes and insurance -- or greater Assume fixed-rate mortgages for no more than 15 years in length From start to finish, How to Retire With a Million Dollars covers the important topics and questions, including determining your monthly income goals; how much cash you'll need to get started; getting bank loans; down payments and financing your first house; the major tax benefits of owning rental properties; selecting neighborhoods and real estate agents; how to utilize your shopping skills to purchase properties; why choosing a house is like choosing a husband (good foundation -- no major structural defects; repairs -- what to fix what to forget); refinancing and financing house two, three, etc.; building your real estate portfolio; foreclosures, bargain homes and other deals; tenants and leases. Complete with a glossary of mortgage-related terms, this indispensable book offers an easy-to-follow strategy to get you started in real estate investing and keep you motivated, whether you're working alone or with the help of a partner. Start building your financial future now -- one house at a time!