Are you looking to get into the world of real estate investing? Real estate investing can be an incredible way to build passive income, diversify your portfolio, and build wealth. However, most newbie investors are usually clueless about how to make money in real estate and build a real estate empire. While no other asset class has made more millionaires than real estate, not all who dive into the world of real estate investing end up successful.
Before getting started in real estate, it’s important that you learn the ins and outs to avoid making the common mistakes made by thousands of beginner real estate investors. What’s the first step you can take? Well, most of the world’s highly successful people read a ton of books. They know that no one knows everything and the best way to improve themselves is to keep learning. While there are thousands of books on real estate in the market, what are the best real estate books for beginners?
We understand that making a decision on what book to read as a beginner can be a daunting task. Some books are more advanced and not meant for the total beginner. That’s why we have done the heavy lifting and compiled a list of some of the books that will be worth your time.
1. Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! by Robert T. Kiyosaki
This is one of the best and most popular personal finance and general investing books of all time for beginners, including first-time real estate investors. The book emphasizes the importance of financial literacy and how to build and grow wealth by buying tangible assets and not liabilities. This includes real estate and small businesses.
It’s more about developing a wealth mindset that will help you build a portfolio that generates consistent passive income and not specific strategies. It’s about managing your finances no matter how modest they are and making your money work for you so you don’t have to work again.
2. Recession-Proof Real Estate Investing: How to Survive (and Thrive!) During Any Phase of the Economic Cycle by J Scott
The coronavirus pandemic has had a dramatic impact on the global economy and many investors are worried that the recession may continue. Regardless of what the US housing market will look like, it’s important that you learn how to modify your real estate investing tactics whenever there is a market shift.
This is one of the best real estate books to help you survive and even thrive in times of economic turmoil. Should the economic downturn continue, the strategies in this book will help you keep calm amidst all the chaos. If you are looking to invest in real estate, this book is a must-read.
Related: How to Recession-Proof an Investment Property
3. The Book on Investing in Real Estate with No (and Low) Money Down: Real Life Strategies for Investing in Real Estate Using Other People’s Money by Brandon Turner
One common myth about real estate investing among beginners is that you need to have a lot of money to launch your career. Brandon refutes this notion and teaches in detail the non-traditional financing techniques that beginners can use to build their real estate portfolio.
A lack of capital shouldn’t hold you back from making your first real estate investment. The author shares a number of creative strategies outside of traditional lending that you can use to finance your real estate deals. You don’t have to use your own money.
Related: Buying Rental Property With No Money Down: 10 Ways It’s Possible
4. What Every Real Estate Investor Needs to Know About Cash Flow…And 36 Other Key Financial Measures by Frank Gallinelli
Successful rental property investors make decisions based on numbers and not emotions. With this book, you’ll learn the guidelines, formulas, and rules of thumb that savvy investors use to make sound investment decisions. The author covers essential metrics for investment property analysis in detail and also provides examples.
He teaches readers how to evaluate the value of an investment property and its potential returns over time. If you want to understand the important financial terms and invest in a property that makes financial sense, this is another best selling book to add to your bookshelf. Even the experienced can use this book as a reference and refresher.
5. The Millionaire Real Estate Investor by Gary Keller
The Millionaire Real Estate Investor is one of the best books on real estate investing and very useful for beginners. Before writing this book, the authors interviewed more than 100 of the most successful real estate investors to understand how millionaire investors think. The book dispels myths about money that hold people back and teaches how to develop the mindset of a millionaire investor.
This is one of the best real estate books for beginners because it contains very helpful tips for getting into the real estate business. It is also very easy to read and understand.
6. The ABCs of Real Estate Investing: The Secrets of Finding Hidden Profits Most Investors Miss by Ken McElroy
As the title suggests, this book teaches the basics of real estate investing. It’s one of the best real estate books for a total beginner. It covers the fundamentals of real estate investing in a simple way that is easy for anyone to grasp. This includes how to find good real estate deals, negotiating deals based on the numbers, property management, and more.
7. Building Wealth One House at a Time by John Schaub
John Schaub, one of the most successful real estate investors, advises that beginner real estate investors need to take up a fundamental approach to property investing and not try to make quick money.
He takes readers through a simple but effective step-by-step system for attaining financial independence over time. He discusses how anyone can build a fortune by keeping it simple and doing the little things that matter. The book covers everything from negotiating deals to building a solid network to maintaining cash flow.
Related: Buy One Rental Property per Year: A How-To Guide
8. The Book on Rental Property Investing: How to Create Wealth with Intelligent Buy and Hold Real Estate Investing by Brandon Turner
If you are looking to invest in rental properties, this book is a must-read. The author imparts the strategies that investors can use to build significant cash flow and become a millionaire rental property investor.
You’ll learn about the mistakes that most real estate investors make so that you don’t repeat them, how to find incredible deals, how to finance rental properties, tax strategies, and more.
Related: Buy and Hold Real Estate Investment Strategy: A Beginner’s Guide
9. The Real Estate Wholesaling Bible: The Fastest, Easiest Way to Get Started in Real Estate Investing by Than Merrill
Wholesaling real estate is one of the best real estate investment strategies for those who don’t have access to capital or simply don’t want to deal with tenants. It’s also simpler and associated with less risk.
Than Merrill teaches all you need to know to profit from this investment strategy including how to find and analyze wholesale deals, how to sell them quickly, and how to develop effective systems.
10. The Book on Flipping Houses: How to Buy, Rehab, and Resell Residential Properties by J Scott
If you are looking to get into house flipping and want to learn the fundamentals, J. Scott has put together a great step-by-step guide. He details the basics that will help you make good returns with every flip.
You’ll learn everything about the house flipping business including finding the right properties to flip, getting financing, budgeting, making renovations, hiring and managing contractors, and selling your property fast for maximum profit.
Related: How to Make Money Flipping Houses – Tips for Maximum Profit
11. How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie
While this book doesn’t really focus on real estate investing, it is one of the essential books for a beginner. Real estate is a relationship business. You need to build long-term relationships with your clients and other real estate professionals if you want to succeed. In this book, Dale Carnegie teaches the fundamental principles of working with people and building better relationships
The Bottom Line
While this list is by no means exhaustive, it’s a solid one for any newbie looking for the best real estate books. Use this list to learn real estate investing before you dive into the industry.
To learn more about real estate investing, be sure to also check out Mashvisor’s real estate investment blog to get free tips for beginners.
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