Serious Beginner Wanting to Prepare for REI Before Turning 18

Member since 2025 · 2 posts · 2 votes

Hey everyone, I’m a younger aspiring real estate investor and I’m trying to learn as much as I can before I’m legally able to start doing deals myself. I’m focusing on building knowledge now—underwriting, analyzing markets, understanding financing, and learning the basics of buy-and-hold and wholesaling.

For those of you who started early or wish you had, what skills or habits would you recommend someone my age develop right now? Books, tools, free resources, or simple steps I can take to build a strong foundation would be really appreciated.

Thanks in advance. I’m here to learn and prepare so I can hit the ground running

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Chris SeveneyBusiness Member

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Investor · VA · Member since 2015 · 21k+ posts · 19k+ votes

10mo

I always recommend people get a job in real estate. Have someone pay you to learn.

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Chris SeveneyBusiness Member
Moderator
Investor · VA · Member since 2015 · 21k+ posts · 19k+ votes
10mo
I always recommend people get a job in real estate. Have someone pay you to learn.
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Elealeh Fulmaran
Specialist · Member since 2025 · 483 posts · 270 votes
10mo
Love the initiative—stacking skills before you can transact will set you up to move fast later. Two simple wins now: analyze at least a few deals a day using a basic cash flow calculator and real rent comps, and build a weekly habit of talking to one local investor or agent to learn how they underwrite in your target market.

What’s your first buy box going to be when you’re ready—property type, price range, and target rent—and which market are you practicing on right now?
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Esther Kramarenko
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Member since 2025 · 2 posts · 2 votes
10mo
My goal is to buy a duplex up to a fourplex as my first property. The state I live in (and the states where my relatives are) are all really expensive, so I’ve been researching how beginners in high-cost areas usually get started. Most of the advice I’ve found points toward choosing a more affordable state where the numbers make more sense and where a starter property is more realistic.

I’m still learning how out-of-state investing works and getting comfortable analyzing deals and running cash flow. If my calculations are right, I should have around $20,000 saved by the time I’m ready to buy, which should make a small multifamily possible using a low down-payment loan.

I might house hack if I end up in a cheaper market, but there’s also a chance I stay in my current state and manage the property from afar. I’m not totally sure how all of that works yet, but I’m trying to learn as much as possible about long-distance investing so I can make the best choice when the time comes.

I’m also interested in house flipping and short-term rentals down the line, but my main plan for my first deal is a cash-flowing small multifamily.
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Aaron ZimmermanBusiness Member
Accountant · Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
10mo
Network with other investors to expand your network of people so that when you do invest, it'll be easier.

i think finding the deal is most crucial, so getting good at getting deals with brokerage or wholesaling would be a good skill.

on the financing side, it's important to understand what type of debt you can get. It's generally easiest to get fha 3.5% down or 5% conventional financing when you first start out. Then can expand to BRRRRs.
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Min ZhangBusiness Member
Real Estate Agent · Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
10mo
It’s awesome you’re getting started early, Esther! The best thing you can do right now is keep practicing the basics! Underwriting deals, studying how different markets behave, and understanding financing. That stuff really sticks once you’ve looked at enough properties.

Free BP content, podcasts, and analyzing real listings helped me a ton when I was learning. If you stay consistent with that, you’ll be in a great spot once you’re ready to take action.

What part of the process are you trying to get better at first?
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Chase Busick
Realtor · Oklahoma City · Member since 2020 · 258 posts · 139 votes
10mo
@Esther Kramarenko great that you are starting so early! Taking advantage of compound interest so early.

With that said, I'd recommend continuing to learn as much as possible for free, leverage other people's time & experience to accelerate your growth. Learning, making money, increasing your savings rate - optimizing your $ & putting it in places that'll somewhat stay the same/make $ (HYSA, Treasuries).

Analyzing & vetting deals is a big one. If buy afar to make deal work, then a management company can manage (but really have to stay on top of). Learn as much as possible about trades or skills (can help save & make a lot of $). Financing is also huge, but always available.

Attending events or connecting with other investors is important. Considering age, I'd for sure stay on here, get free books/audiobooks from library/app, watch YouTube, podscasts, read, call/chat with others.
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