But because he did poor in RE investing (with virtually every mistake possible), RE investing is not worth it. 

You can make a profit, but not worth the risk. 

They should not SET the commission amount, because as the DOJ says, they do so under the threat of a group boycott if they don't offer the "standard" (which I know is a word you are not supposed to say).The reason Realtors and the NAR are fighting so hard to keep seller set commissions, is that buyers do not believe they get $12,000 worth of service when they buy the average $400k home.

Definitely worth checking out.

Is this book worth my time or am I better off going another direction?

It’s been a wild ride—full of challenges, lessons, and a few big wins that made it all worth it.

I don't even think its worth a sub-toSounds like you spoke to collections (who will tell you anything to get money) and not loss mitigation, as paying back due balances are NEVER part of a short sale.

It might also be worth exploring creative financing to leverage that quarter million into even bigger opportunities. 

It’s also worth diving into local regulations and HOA rules—they can shift quickly in coastal markets like this.

I owe about $289K and it's worth about $310-320K.