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Posted over 10 years ago

When do you know you’re ready for your 1st deal?

In sports, coach tells us when we’re ready to enter into the game. In our professional life, our boss tells us when it’s time for us to be promoted and take it to the next level.

But, in real estate, only we can tell ourselves when it’s time to take action.

So, when do what know we’re ready to start?

I’ve identified four things that, if you have them, then you’re ready to get going.

Ready? Here we go.

1. Baseline knowledge

Having baseline knowledge of the real estate fundamentals is essential. You can get started by reading these books, listening to podcasts and attending seminars. Speaking to people in the industry and collecting as many insights as possible.

I personally started by reading the book Investing for Dummies and followed that with Rich Dad, Poor Dad – by then, I was hooked on real estate investing being the #1 way to invest a dollar.

2. Support system

This part has two aspects. First, you’ll need a mentor, mastermind group or someone on your side who has been there and done that. There’s zero reason to do it along without the support of someone with experience. So many mistakes will be avoided and you’ll go light years faster than if you didn’t have someone.

There are real estate haters out there and they will tell you you’re crazy for buying property. They’ll say it won’t cash flow, it’s too much of a headache and it’s not worth all the effort. And they are right if you buy it the wrong way. But you won’t do that. You’re going to buy the right way because you have people helping you who have done it the right way.

Second, you’ll want support from those closest to you. You’ll need to get their approval on investing in real estate because it takes time and energy away from your other commitments you might have with them.

3. Inspired or disgusted

I tell people congrats when they have a problem that’s frustrating them. I don’t say that because I enjoy being punched in the face, I say it because I truly mean it. We are at our best when we’re searching for answers and striving for more than what we currently have.

The scariest and most depressing place to be in life is complacent. Or, “just ok”. Because being “just ok” doesn’t take us to action. We just float on by.

When you’re inspired for more or disgusted by your current situation, then you’ll be ready.

4. Knowing your WHY

Why are you going it and how is it going to benefit others? We have an amazing capacity to do more for others than we will ourselves. Once you list out reasons why you want to invest in real estate and how it benefits others then you’ll be ready.

Without those reasons it will be tough to stay the course when the inevitable challenges come up. And there will be many. But, if you know why you’re doing it and how it will benefit others (i.e. the ripple effect) then you’ll have the proper psychological mentality to push through that stuff and overcome with great results.

If you’ve purchased a property, what other things would you say are needed in order to do your first deal?

If you haven't purchased a property, what's holding you back?



Comments (9)

  1. I resemble a couple of those mistakes, lol. I started by buying my second home after renting out rooms in my first home. Then read "Rule #1" just before buying my third home. Not exactly a great knowledge of basics there! Fortunately I had some great luck (and great renters) on my side. What I like a lot (like @Dawn Anastasi) is when a renter thanks you for providing a great home at a great price!


    1. It's awesome when there's a win-win. I too resemble the 1st mistake to some extent too. When making offers on my first place I lost my earnest money due to some technicality which was abt 2k. It HURT BAD. While I had the baseline knowledge about running the #s I should have learned more about the offer process. Hard lesson learned but glad it happened (wasn't at the time!). Sounds like you've got a nice portfolio too. I imagine what you consider "luck" is actually hard work, treating people right and taking action when the time is right...And, perhaps some chance. :) One of my fave books, What I Wish I Knew When I was Twenty, talks about how the "lucky" create their own luck by putting themselves in the right situations to be "lucky".


  2. Joe, Nice post. I noticed in my area of real estate investing, tax liens, a trend recently in the forum where somebody new asks the generic "Can someone explain the good and bad of tax liens?" Or "Can someone give me a high level explanation of how to invest in tax certificates?" A person really needs to do some basic reading/learning (your #1) to understand that asking such a generic question is like asking "I want to be an author, can someone explain how to write a best selling novel?" I have no problem with people being new and wanting to learn, but that involves basic learning that they must do on their own. I usually give an answer on a basic book to read. Once you have the basics, it's easier to take action.


    1. Agreed, the first step is knowing what questions to ask. And you learn that by understanding the basic principals.


    2. It is surprising how often you see that. I don't hold it against someone though if they are receptive when you tell them they need to do some basic research and you point them in the direction of where to find some information. Sometimes there is SO much information that it is hard for people just learning to even figure out what they should be looking at. If that little nudge in the right direction helps them I give them a clean slate when they come back with the next tier questions.


    3. There's definitely one downside to living in the info age and that's that there is SO much info out there that it can be paralyzing if we don't know where to look. That's why I like sites like BiggerPockets so much - because it's easy to get advice from people who are clearly doing it AND you can get a sense of their personality, background, etc. I've seen articles on Forbes.com that say paying off your mortgage is a "no lose investment" - that's ridiculous. But, if I didn't have that baseline knowledge and know forbes.com isn't the best real estate investing resource I might have been influenced by what that writer said.


  3. Agreed, Shaun Reilly. It's incredible to see the shift in our lives once we decide to do something.


    1. That is for sure! Really that is why the inspirational mindset guys are so popular and do so well. People can be capable of really incredible things once they get their head in the right place. I won't be one of those people that you can do anything if you just believe it and want it. You do have to have the knowledge and skills, but a lot of people have those and just can't get over the mental hump to put it all to use.


  4. I think you have a solid list there. One thing is you just have to be "ready" to get in the game. Even those that are serious sometimes just need something to click inside to take that leap into things. Personally I know when I got serious about the 2nd real estate career as a rehabber I just kind of studied and researched for a long time. Then one day something just changed in my head and over the next 30 days I put out ~100 offers.