Real Estate Dad's Way traces 70 years of experience beginning with Art Cooper, Dad, and then me, the author Jeff Cooper. Simple examples rather timeless show real estate is still a good investment. No calculator needed. Dad was a broker in Palatka, Florida and I became an appraiser in Palatka and Jacksonville, Florida. You can outlive your clients but not your tenants. Dad didn't believe in 30 year mortgages. His only house was paid off in 5 years. His first deal was in Pittsburgh in 1949 when he made a crashing $4,000 profit (a years salary). He was born in a sod house in 1901 in South Dakota so knew about hard work and thrift. One of 8 children, he grew with the help of brother Conrad Cooper, later from Pittsburgh.