Carlton Sheets, also known as Carleton H. Sheets, was a famous real estate investor and author who was best known for his television infomercials that marketed his “No Down Payment” home-study course. He sold more than 3 million copies of his programs in the United States alone and appeared on numerous radio and television talk shows. He was also a successful real estate investor himself, who claimed to have bought and sold hundreds of properties using creative financing techniques. He died on January 25, 2020, at the age of 80. But what was the cause of his death and what legacy did he leave behind?
The Cause of Death
According to his obituary, Carlton Sheets passed away in the early morning hours of January 25, 2020, at his home in Hutchinson Island, Florida. The obituary did not mention the cause of his death, but it is possible that he died of natural causes or complications from Alzheimer’s disease, which he revealed he had symptoms consistent with in 2002. He said at the time that he had to “reconcile courage and surrender in equal measure” and that he hoped to “remain productive for as long as I can continue to enjoy life and its challenges”. He also said that he wanted to spend more time with his family and friends and pursue his hobbies, such as golf and travel.
The Legacy He Left Behind
Carlton Sheets was a pioneer in the field of real estate education and infomercials. He started investing in real estate in the 1970s and began teaching local real estate classes for the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) in the early 1980s. He then teamed up with businessmen from Chicago to form Professional Education Institute (PEI), which featured him as the speaker for his best-selling “No Down Payment” book and course. He also authored other successful books and courses, such as “Cashing in on Foreclosures”, “Real Profits with Partners”, “Real Profits in Property Management”, and “Real Profits in Real Estate”.
His infomercials were among the first and longest-running ones in the industry, spanning 25 years. He won numerous awards for his programs and was credited with changing many people’s lives by teaching them how to invest in real estate with little or no money down. He also inspired many other real estate gurus and mentors, such as Robert Kiyosaki, Dean Graziosi, Armando Montelongo, and others.
However, his programs also faced criticism and controversy from some consumers, regulators, and media outlets. Some customers complained that they were overbilled, had difficulties securing refunds, or did not receive the promised support or coaching. Some state attorney general offices said they received a handful of similar complaints over the years. Some media reports questioned the validity and effectiveness of his methods and testimonials. Some experts argued that his strategies were risky, outdated, or unethical.
Despite these challenges, Carlton Sheets maintained a loyal fan base and a positive reputation among many real estate investors. He was regarded as a humanitarian, a visionary, and a legend by many of his followers. He was survived by his wife Galina, his children Cynthia and Richard, his stepson Vasco, and his granddaughter Lindsey. He was cremated and a small private celebration of his life was held in March 2020. He will be missed but never forgotten by many who learned from him or worked with him.
