Becoming a real estate investor will not be an easy path as your final goal is to become a successful one, right? Well, today we will help you take the first step on that journey by telling you about all the different ways for how to learn about real estate investing. We will cover everything that a beginner investor might need when getting started in real estate such as real estate education, tools for real estate investors, different real estate strategies and more. So pay attention and focus on everything we have to say here about how to learn about real estate investing.
#1 How to Learn About Real Estate Investing: Where to Get the Needed Information
Like with any other activity, you should start by learning the theory first. Here are the best ways you can get the needed information to guide you on becoming a real estate investor.
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Official Real Estate Education
So, how to learn about real estate investing? First of all, you can get an official real estate education. This kind of real estate education will not only focus on how to invest in real estate, but it will also cover much more. You will learn theory, research techniques, various types of investment strategies, etc.
However, not every career path needs an official education. For instance, if you want to become a real estate developer, you need this type of education or else you don’t stand a chance to succeed. But when you are thinking of renting out a house and have no clue how to do it right, there is absolutely no need for a few years of education in a college or university. You can start by learning what you need to know on your own and gain some experience and knowledge as you go.
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Real Estate Investing Courses
Another great way how to learn about real estate investing is by taking real estate investing courses. During such courses, you can focus your study on a certain set of real estate skills that you find useful.
Moreover, these courses can provide you with a great opportunity to expand your real estate investment network. Quite often at such real estate investing courses, beginner real estate investors can find mentors for themselves. A real estate mentor is a person who will give advice and suggestions whenever a beginner investor faces difficulties. This is quite useful when taking your first steps in the field of real estate.
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Real Estate Investment Books
Real estate investment books are another great source of information a beginner investor can use. Whenever you have a specific question, for instance, regarding real estate market analysis, you can find the answer in books.
Additionally, when ready to learn more about buying an investment property, for example, you can use this source of information on the topic you need at any given time. This is a great plus for people who have a full-time job and cannot fit courses into their schedule. Besides, you can always use the books as referrals along the way if needed.
The great thing about real estate investment books is that they are written by professors and successful people. Consequently, you can typically trust the information provided there. Still, a good tip is to try to learn more about the author(s) to ensure you are receiving sound advice.
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Real Estate Blogs/ Websites
Real estate websites and real estate blogs can be great resources. Any little question concerning buying an investment property, conducting investment property analysis, etc. can be found within seconds as you search the web for a specific topic. The best part is that the information is typically more relevant and up to date than books or even some courses that follow outdated curriculums.
However, do not trust all real estate blogs or websites. Try to select only the professional and trustworthy ones. The reason is simple: It is pretty easy to post any type of information online. Therefore, check the website first before following its advice. If you want one of the best real estate resources, check out Mashvisor.
Another great thing about real estate websites is the community. You can join different real estate investment groups in order to share your experience or ask for advice.
#2 Learning More Before Investing
While another great way to learn real estate investing is by practicing, you should try to learn more before you actually start. The theory taught in colleges or online real estate courses is good and useful, but you cannot fully grasp the current US housing market, for instance, in this way. So there is some research that you need to do on your own.
Research the real estate laws in the area of your interest. This is especially important when starting a short-term rental business. Moreover, carefully study the US housing market as the field of real estate is a fast-paced and ever-changing environment. By having a clear picture of the housing situation, you are able to choose the right market as well as forecast your future development.
#3 Familiarize Yourself with Real Estate Investing Strategies
So, let’s say you have learned the theory and you have done your research on the market you are interested in. The next step you should take in learning about real estate investing is to get familiar with the most common real estate investing strategies.
For example, becoming a landlord is too general. You can become a landlord of either short term or long term rental properties. You can also rent out commercial real estate investments. So when wondering how to learn about real estate investing, you’ll have to dive deeper and learn what strategy you want to use specifically.
Here are a few resources on the most popular real estate investment strategies to start investigating:
- Rental Strategies (Airbnb vs Traditional)
- Buy-and-Hold
- House Wholesaling
- Fix-and-Flip
Such investment strategies are the most commonly used by real estate investors. However, for beginner real estate investors, it’s best to try buy-and-hold in combination with one of the rental strategies. This is relatively easier to execute and usually has a lower risk than the more advanced strategies.
#4 Find Out How to Perform Analysis the Right Way
Becoming a landlord/real estate investor is not easy. You cannot simply buy the first investment property you see and rent it out without prior analysis. The reason is simple- you may end up with an investment property that will bring you a huge headache afterward.
So what analyses do you need to do in order to invest in the perfect positive cash flow property? Well, there are a number of analyses you need to conduct in order to select a property that will make you a fortune. These include real estate market analysis, neighborhood analysis, comparative market analysis, investment property analysis, etc.
Yet, completing all of these analyses would take a lot of time. Additionally, there is a high possibility of miscalculating some of the metrics or not being able to collect all the necessary data. So, what should you do? You should use various tools for real estate investors that increase the efficiency as well as the accuracy of the results. In this case, we are talking about buying a rental property calculator. This real estate investing tool does all the analyses in seconds. After the results appear, your only task is to choose a property. Mashvisor’s tools are some of the best on the market. You should definitely check them out. To start looking for and analyzing the best investment properties in your city and neighborhood of choice, click here.
The Bottom Line
The question of how to learn about real estate investing does not look so difficult, as all you need to do is follow this guide. To sum it all up for you:
- Get a proper education, whatever the means, whether courses, books, etc.
- Learn more about your market.
- Know what strategy you will follow.
- Do your research and analysis prior to investing using the proper tools.
The last thing after that is to invest money and maintain your investment property either by yourself or through a rental property management company.
Now you know how to learn about real estate investing so you can get started this year on the right foot. To learn more about how we will help you make faster and smarter real estate investment decisions, click here.