New to Real Estate · Longmont, CO · Member since 2026 · 3 posts · 0 votes
I am currently too young and don’t have enough money saved up to invest in real estate and was wondering what I should do to save up for my first real estate investment a little down the road?
Attorney · Philadelphia · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
3h
You can certainly learn through the options others have listed but investing into a skill that allows you to generate meaningful income that doesn't not require owning real estate is truthfully the best investment you can make because it opens the door to so many more real estate investment opportunities.
Smart to plan in advance. I would consider splitting in a high yield savings account and low fee total stock market index fund like VTSAX or SCHB. Stock market investing is generally more for long term but diversification is important and while safe, money won't grow much in HYSA. If you aren't already definitely maximize any retirement account options especially Roth IRA which outside an employer match is the best thing going in my non-financial professional opinion.
New to Real Estate · Longmont, CO · Member since 2026 · 3 posts · 0 votes
7h
Thanks for the help, I was considering opening a HYSA but I’m a little stuck on going with an online vs. a physical bank to open that account. Do you have an opinion on this?
Englewood, NJ · Member since 2018 · 461 posts · 72 votes
7h
dan the best investment you can make right now isn't actually in any account - it's in learning how real estate actually works before you put money into it. i buy properties at tax deed auctions in florida and i started with very little capital. the biggest edge i had wasn't money, it was understanding how to find deals and analyze them.
that said, you do need some savings. a high yield savings account is a good place to park money you're accumulating for your first deal. online banks almost always pay better rates than physical banks because they don't have the overhead of branches. that's pretty much the only real difference. marco, ally, discover - they're all fine. just pick one with no fees and a competitive rate.
but here's what i'd actually focus on: learn to analyze deals now, before you have the money. look at properties in your area, figure out what they rent for, what the taxes are, what insurance costs. run the numbers on paper. by the time you've saved enough to actually buy something, you'll already know how to spot a good deal vs. a money pit.
and depending on where you are, there are ways to get into real estate with very little money. tax deed auctions, for example - you can pick up properties for just the back taxes owed. it takes knowledge more than capital. so keep saving, but also keep learning. both matter.
New to Real Estate · Longmont, CO · Member since 2026 · 3 posts · 0 votes
6h
Hey, thanks for the reply! I have been starting to read some blogs and listening to podcasts but haven’t found a whole lot that I really enjoy/that feel helpful. Do you have any recommendations?
Accountant · Long Island, NY · Member since 2021 · 184 posts · 146 votes
6h
Quote from @Dan Baird:
I am currently too young and don’t have enough money saved up to invest in real estate and was wondering what I should do to save up for my first real estate investment a little down the road?
@Dan Baird Education! You'd be surprised how much you could learn in a single month if you locked in on some topics you are interested about. And the best part about it is, a lot of this stuff is FREE. The books you can buy that seem to serve beginner investors are worthless in my honest opinion. I'd just look to get the free info online.
Simultaneously save your money. If you are working a job, I'd recommend contributing to a Roth IRA. Getting the max contributions in when you are young is extremely important! Plug in 7k in contributions starting at 18 vs 28 in a compound interest calculator, and you'll see what I mean!
Englewood, NJ · Member since 2018 · 461 posts · 72 votes
6h
for podcasts, the biggerpockets podcast is the obvious one and it's free. they've got hundreds of episodes so just start with the ones that match what you're curious about. the "best of" episodes are a good starting point.
for reading, i'd skip most of the popular real estate books honestly. a lot of them are just motivational fluff. instead, go to your county's property appraiser website and start looking at actual properties. that's the best free education you can get. see what things sold for, what the taxes are, who owns them. it sounds boring but it's how you actually learn.
if you want something more structured, there are some good youtube channels that walk through deal analysis. just search "how to analyze a rental property" and watch a few. the key is to then go do it yourself on paper with real properties in your area.
the biggest mistake new investors make is consuming too much content and not actually looking at enough deals. aim to look at 5-10 properties a week on paper. after a month you'll start seeing patterns.
Real Estate Consultant · Melbourne, FL · Member since 2019 · 205 posts · 110 votes
4h
You can learn a lot by helping someone who's already operating rentals. Turnovers, listing photos, coordinating repairs. Getting paid to see the messy side of the business would give you a much better starting point than just watching deal breakdowns.
Real Estate Agent · Boise, ID · Member since 2017 · 557 posts · 374 votes
3h
For now focus on your education and network. There are tons of podcasts and youtube channels that can help you with this. Pick a lane and learn it. If you want to go multifamily 2-4 unit know your market and the data, be able to spot deals. The forums are a great place to ask questions and network, however there is nothing like going to an inperson meet up. Look on facebook and see what is happening in your market, start attending the meetups and ask questions. See if there is anyone you can add value to that is doing what you want to, and do things for them they do not want to in exchange for advise etc.
Attorney · Philadelphia · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
3h
You can certainly learn through the options others have listed but investing into a skill that allows you to generate meaningful income that doesn't not require owning real estate is truthfully the best investment you can make because it opens the door to so many more real estate investment opportunities.
Agree. I started with live in rehabs which I either sold or turned into LTR in my late 20s while I was working and continuing my education. RE was not my career. Over time my income far surpassed the number of rentals I would have any interest in managing. If you think RE is the gig you want to do full time that is ok also but keep an open mind. Finding something lucrative that you are good at and enjoy is a beautiful thing and it can include RE on the side.
Real Estate Agent · Columbus Cleveland Dayton, OH · Member since 2024 · 2k+ posts · 906 votes
50m
Quote from @Dan Baird:
I am currently too young and don’t have enough money saved up to invest in real estate and was wondering what I should do to save up for my first real estate investment a little down the road?
You’ve got time on your side, so I’d focus on building savings, improving your credit, and learning how to analyze deals before you’re ready to buy. Start following actual listings and run the numbers even if you can’t purchase yet. When the time comes, you’ll be way ahead because you’ll already know what a good deal looks like.