Suggested Books or Courses for New Investor

Suggested Books or Courses for New Investor

Member since 2022 · 2 posts · 0 votes

I am currently trying to get into investing. I am probably going to start with Single Family in the Northern Memphis area in order to have cash flowing properties, but then my eventual goal is to get into Multi-Family Properties as well as short term rentals. 

What are the best books or courses people have used to learn about investing? 

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Investor · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2020 · 102 posts · 94 votes
3y

@Dean Harris and @Douglas Skipworth have a Memphis specific podcast that I recommend. Apart from that, you an reference the attached book list for transition from residential to commercial-multifamily - https://dbacapitalgroup.com/bo....

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  • Malcomb StapelPro Member
    Investor · Topeka, KS · Member since 2020 · 669 posts · 488 votes
    3y
    Quote from @Jesse Cowden:

    I am currently trying to get into investing. I am probably going to start with Single Family in the Northern Memphis area in order to have cash flowing properties, but then my eventual goal is to get into Multi-Family Properties as well as short term rentals. 

    What are the best books or courses people have used to learn about investing? 


     You could watch Brandon Turners video on how to evaluate a property. Then use the calculator tool and evaluate 5 or more a day for a few weeks. That will get you practiced up. 

  • Investor · Austin, TX · Member since 2021 · 9k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    3y

    The book on how to flip by Biggerpockets 

  • Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes
    3y
    Quote from @Jesse Cowden:

    1. Start with BiggerPockets Ultimate Beginners Guide (free). It will familiarize you with the basic terminology and benefits. Then you can read a more in-depth book like The Book On Rental Property Investing by Brandon Turner or The Unofficial Guide to Real Estate Investing by Spencer Strauss.

    2. Get your finances in order. Get rid of debt, build a budget, and save. The idea that you can build wealth without putting any money into it is a recipe for disaster and the sales pitch of gurus trying to steal your money. A wise investor will not try to get rich quick with shortcuts. If you can't keep control of your personal finances, you are highly unlikely to succeed in real estate investing. Check out my personal favorite, Set For Life by Scott Trench , or The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey.

    3. As you read these books, watch the BiggerPockets podcasts. This will clarify and reinforce what you are reading. You can hear real-world examples of how others have built their investment portfolio and (hopefully) learn to avoid their mistakes.

    4. Now you need to figure out how to find deals and pay for them. Again, the BiggerPockets store has some books for this or you can learn by watching podcasts, reading blogs, and interacting on the forum. There is a handy search bar in the upper right that makes it easy to find previous discussions, blogs, podcasts, and other resources. BiggerPockets also has a calculator you can use to analyze deals and I highly recommend you start this as soon as possible, even if you are not ready to buy. If you consistently analyze properties, it will be much easier to recognize a good deal when it shows up. Find Brandon's videos on YouTube for the "four square" method of analyzing homes and practice. It doesn't take long to learn how to spot a good deal.

    5. Study the market. You can learn to do this on your own or get a rockstar REALTOR to lead the way. I highly recommend a well-qualified REALTOR that works with investors and knows how to best help you.

    6. Jump in! Far too many get stuck in the "paralysis by analysis" stage, thinking they just don't know enough to get started. The truth is, you could read 100 books and still not know enough because certain things need to be learned through trial-and-error. You don't need to know everything to get started; you just need a foundation to build on and the rest will come through experience and then refining your education.

    You can build a basic understanding of investing in 3-6 months. How long it takes to be financially ready is different for everyone. Once you're ready, create a goal (e.g. "I will buy at least one single-family home, duplex, triplex, or fourplex before the end of 2019") and then do it. Real estate investing is a pretty forgiving world and the average person can still make money even with some pretty big mistakes.


    The DIY Landlord Book4.7248 Reviews
  • Memphis, TN · Member since 2022 · 230 posts · 99 votes
    3y

    Hey @Jesse Cowden

    I hope you are doing well! The Memphis area is a great place to invest in and there are a ton of resources that can help! 

    I will shoot you a pm with some links! Have a great day! 

  • Investor · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2020 · 102 posts · 94 votes
    3y

    @Dean Harris and @Douglas Skipworth have a Memphis specific podcast that I recommend. Apart from that, you an reference the attached book list for transition from residential to commercial-multifamily - https://dbacapitalgroup.com/bo....

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