Interview with Eddie Godshalk, author of "Missing Keys to Thriving in Any Real Estate Market"

About the Author:

Eddie Godshalk bought his first investment houses in 1987, where he was a licensed agent in the Eastern U.S. From those humble beginnings, Eddie has gained more than 20 years of real estate investment, business development and mortgage experience. Recently, Eddie gained praise for his ability to help average investors generate exceptional wealth using his revolutionary Home Value Predictor web-based real estate system.

Eddie received his MBA from San Francisco State University (SFSU) with a focus on building automated valuation models (AVM´s) and real estate finance. Using the Home Value Predictor technology, Eddie has purchased numerous properties with little money down, netting greater than two thousand percent return on equity investment per property.

After collecting more than four years´ worth of micro block data, Eddie and a team of SFSU and Berkeley PhD´s tested and back-tested algorithms. After testing more than eight mapping software applications, from Open Source to ESRI, the latest public version of Home Value Predictor was launched in mid 2009.

Eddie is committed to bringing the most accurate, reliable and relevant information to the real estate market Home Value Predictor is poised to redefine the way we think of real estate in the 21st century.

Visit his website at http://www.HomeValuePredictor.com/

About the Book:

"The Missing Keys to Thriving in Any Real Estate Market - How to Create Wealth in Any Community Using Street Analysis Technology"

It is risk reduction blueprint for Investors and Real Estate professionals who want to be experts in their local market and make more sales. Readers will learn how to and where to get current accurate info and not be mislead by the media and create wealth using break-through mapping technology.

The housing crisis and financial crisis was caused by a lack of current local information. Just ask your broker or banker, what was the job growth or migration in my Zip Code (or any Zip Code) last month or quarter, and see what they say. More importantly, ask them how will these variables, or any other micro-market variable, affect price changes in the future. And see what they say.

I am a leading authority on current, local real estate info. And author of "The Missing Keys to Thriving in Any Real Estate Market". My competition is Case-Shiller, which you can buy for a min of $250 for a few counties at Economy.com. And only covers macro markets, which has HUGE errors at the micro-market and block level. Consumers, investors, and bankers, all can benefit with current local information and forecasts, and thus, make more profits.

With the assistance of PhD´s from UC Berkeley and others, Home Value Predictor has developed Future Value changes, on over 350,000 micro-markets, forecasting out as long as 24 months, with confidence levels. We expect to launch in Aug.

To find out more go to http://www.homevaluepredictor.com/

I was lucky enough to get the author to agree to an interview. This is what he had to say:

Where are you from?

I was originally born in Washington D.C and currently live in San Jose, CA

When and why did you begin writing?

I began seriously writing (besides just in grad school) about 3 years ago, when I realized that many of the ideas and concepts I am working on, are easily misinterpreted. For examples, a lot of people think they know real estate, and all information is available, which is a false premise.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

Not really until I finished my book on the Missing Keys. And still a work in progress, since a lot of the keys are missing.

What inspired you to write your first book?

What inspired me to write the Missing Keys if the fact that there is a lot of mis-information and business that seems to convey information, that really have there own self-interest at heart, not the interest of the real estate investor or consumer. And it takes a bit of Census Block Group research to really understand the prior statement, and knowledge of real estate information providers.

Do you have a specific writing style?

My style is straight forward and direct, which is why I have to have an editor help me sometimes.

How did you come up with the title?

After talking to lot of friends. When I discuss the problems and issues of the problems in the 90´s and current issues, it always boils down to what information was and is missing. And to look at the issue with clear eyes, a research has to look at what information could have lessened the real estate problems in the 90´s and 2005+.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

What are the missing keys? The untold story or what really caused the housing crisis. And the cure to real estate problems, short-term and long-term.

How much of the book is realistic?

My book is 100% realistic, the best of my knowledge, and well researched.

Are the experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

My experiences are based upon years of real estate investing, a licensed real estate agent in multiple states, my MBA with building of Automatic Valuation Models, and interviewing a lot of builders and real estate investors.

What books have most influenced your life most?

Lowry´s book on Real Estate Investing, and Robert Allen´s books on leverage, and various books on self growth.