You can spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on a real estate investing course, and absolutely get your money’s worth.
But you might as well start by spending $5-10 on a book about real estate investing, before shelling out the big bucks. (Or take our free real estate investing course, of course!)
Below are a few of the best books for real estate investing, as touted by some of our friends and fellow investors in the industry. Happy reading!
Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
“My favorite book about real estate investing is Rich Dad, Poor Dad and the benefits of starting young. It addresses the overall mindset that a real estate investor should have, which is your biggest asset. “Take on risk and put in the hard work while you’re young, and your investments have longer to snowball. Instead of buying a fancy car, put that money into real estate. After all, assets are things that put money into your pocket, and liabilities are things that take money out of your pocket, and real estate is one of the best assets to own. “I also love that this book discusses how powerful leverage can be.” Andrew Helling — REthority Brian’s Note: Rich Dad, Poor Dad was the first book I read on investing, personal finance, and mindset. To this day it remains one of my favorites, because it teaches you how to think differently about money than most poor and middle-class people do. Related Article Read: Raise Your Children as Good Entrepreneurs, Not Good EmployeesThe ABCs of Real Estate Investing by Ken McElroy
“The ABCs of Real Estate Investing was one of the most enjoyable and eye-opening real estate investing books I read in my early days as an investor. Ken McElroy is a great writer who knows how to take a seemingly complicated subject and make it very easy to understand. “If you’ve ever wanted to get a primer on how to approach rental property investments the right way, this is a fantastic place to start.” Seth Williams — REtipster Brian’s Note: It’s no coincidence that both these books appear on the list of best books about real estate investing. This book ties directly to Robert Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad, Poor Dad, as it appears in a series called “Rich Dad Advisors.” Related Article Read: Buying Rental Property 101: How to Buy Your First Investment PropertyThe Millionaire Real Estate Investor by Gary Keller & Dave Jenks
“Anyone who is looking to get into real estate investing should grab a copy of The Millionaire Real Estate Investor. You will learn how ordinary people changed their financial lives by following sound advice and expert guidance.” Bill Gassett — Max Real Estate Exposure “The first real estate investing ‘how-to’ book that we ever read is still one of our favorites… The Millionaire Real Estate Investor, by Gary Keller and Dave Jenks. “We have read several books, but we keep going back to review the concepts taught in this no nonsense approach. All of Gary Keller’s books are a collection of wisdom from many, not just his own experiences. To us, this is a great value. There are probably as many different approaches to investing in real estate as there are investors… there is not just a single approach that gives the greatest success. “Real estate is a very local commodity. There are many ways to secure the funds. And there are many ways to make a profit. This book gives a plethora of real scenarios and covers many of the various aspects of investing, from building a ‘dream team’ to tracking your expenses and most importantly, finding the right properties. “The Millionaire Real Estate Investor is a great first book to read, as well as to go back and review, if you are interested in learning the ins and outs of investing in real estate.” Chris & Karen Highland — Frederick Real Estate Online Related Article Read: How to Retire at 40 with Real Estate Investments & StocksReal estate investments? Awesome. Being a landlord? Less fun.
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The Book on Investing In Real Estate with No (and Low) Money Down by Brandon Turner
“As someone who firmly believes real estate investing is one of the best ways to discover passive income, I still think it’s important to find creative ways to build this kind of wealth without breaking the bank. “That’s why for me, The Book on Investing In Real Estate with No (and Low) Money Down by Brandon Turner is one of, if not the, best at breaking this down. This book is ideal for all levels of real estate investors, from those who are struggling to find solid ground to rookie investors looking to close their first deal. “There are always multiple avenues to pursue when it comes to real estate investing, and this book covers them all. And it could be just the kickstarter budding investors need to achieve enterprise-level profits.” Orlando Rodriguez — Credit.com Brian’s Note: I have a great deal of respect for Brandon Turner, both as a real estate investing expert and as a writer. He has a gift for simplifying the complex. You probably know Brandon from his work at BiggerPockets — for full disclosure, I’m a regular writer for the BiggerPockets blog. Related Article Read: Minimum Down Payment for an Investment Property: How to Invest with LessThe Book on Rental Property Investing by Brandon Turner
“My favorite real estate investing book is The Book on Rental Property Investing: How to Create Wealth with Intelligent Buy and Hold Real Estate Investing by Brandon Turner. It really makes the complicated process of rental property investing clear and understandable and is perfect for anyone looking to invest for the first time. In fact, we give that book to all new employees at Clever because it’s so informative. It teaches you everything you need to know about rental property investing.” Kristen Herhold — List With Clever “Over the years I have read dozens of real estate books. Many have guided me through purchases and management dilemmas. Learning to buy with leverage, how to value a property and effectively deal with troubled tenants are just a few of the many issues that I have navigated with the help of various books. “With this book you’ll learn how to analyze rental properties, negotiate offers, financing, managing and more. I think this is a must read for an experienced long term investor or someone just starting out in the business. The investment real estate market is rapidly changing and investors should embrace this book as a guide to real estate investment strategies.” Robbie Cronrod — American Apartment Owners’ Association Related Article Read: How to Buy Your First Rental Property with No Money DownThe Book on Estimating Rehab Costs by J Scott
“The Book on Estimating Rehab Costs: The Investor’s Guide to Defining Your Renovation Plan, Building Your Budget, and Knowing Exactly How Much It All Costs by J Scott is a great introductory book to real estate investing (especially if you’re interested in flipping houses). This book gave me the fundamental knowledge on determining the costs of rehabs from cosmetic flips to full guts. Not only was I better equipped to make estimates, I had formed a more comprehensive language for speaking to contractors and home inspectors. “Investors can learn how to accurately budget any house flipping project or investment property renovation. Estimating Rehab Costs can also be used as a dictionary to skip to the sections that pertain to your current renovations. This book is a must-read for investors who want to expand their knowledge in the fundamentals of budgeting and accurately pricing a renovation.” Andy Kolodgie — The House Guys Related Article Read: How to Negotiate with Contractors
Crushing It In Apartments and Commercial Real Estate by Brian H. Murray
“Making an investment in real estate could prove to be one of the best decisions you ever make. “I’m sure many of you will enjoy Brian Murray’s book, Crushing It In Apartments and Commercial Real Estate. “This is not a story about instantly becoming the next billionaire real estate tycoon, but rather about Brian Murray, who years ago began as a teacher and now owns a multi-million dollar company. “For those who want to get into real estate, or who are already in it and want more knowledge, this guide is perfect for them. “Being a real estate expert comes down to many factors, including learning the fundamentals of the business, analyzing properties, being passionate, and having a goal – which are all topics covered in this amazing book. “To break the ice with real estate and start learning, I highly recommend this book!” Kevin Panitch – JustStartInvesting.com Related Article Read: 8 Rental Property Financing Ideas from Pro Real Estate InvestorsMastering the Market Cycle by Howard Marks
“One of my favorite books is Mastering the Market Cycle: Getting the Odds on Your Side by Howard Marks. It gives insight into the psychology of how investors react, and generally how they react in the exact opposite ways they should be reacting. “Another favorite is The Real Estate Game: The Intelligent Guide To Decisionmaking And Investment. Good high level thinking with excellent details on potential pitfalls. “Finally, Raising Capital for Real Estate: How to Attract Investors, Establish Credibility, and Fund Deals by Hunter Thompson gives practical step by step processes and guides for how to raise capital. I feel like he left nothing off the table.” Sam Wilson — Bricken Investment Group Related Article Read: Housing Market Corrections: The Real Estate Investor’s Ultimate Guide to DownturnsExtreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko Willink
“I love telling people about my vote for the best real estate investing book. “It doesn’t actually discuss real estate investing at all, but it covers one of the core values needed to succeed as an investor: leadership. My vote for the best book for real estate investing is Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin is probably the most impactful book I’ve ever read and it’s made me a better investor, business person, husband, and father. “There are several hands in every real estate transaction and no deal would feel complete if something didn’t go wrong or nobody dropped the ball along the way. It’s easy to point fingers and pass blame when things go south, but the investor that can take ownership in any situation and bring an otherwise lost deal to a successful close is one that can go as far as they want in this industry. And that’s the type of leadership principles this book teaches.” Kevin Vandenboss — Benzinga Related Article Read: How to Make Money Real Estate Investing: 8 Competitive AdvantagesFinal Thoughts
If you know anything about real estate investing, you know that it comes with dozens of interlocking skill sets. Some of the best books in real estate investing above drill down to all those little micro-skills. Others take a big-picture approach, focusing on how to think about money, leadership, and investing in general. Before spending money on a real estate investment course, pick up a book or two. I listen to audiobooks while I work out, and while I walk my infant daughter. And while you’re picking up free real estate investing advice, check out the best real estate investing blogs and the best real estate investing podcasts for more free education.♦ What do you consider the best books for real estate investing? What makes them stand out as the best books to read on real estate investing?More Real Estate Investing Reads:
About the Author
G. Brian Davis is a landlord, real estate investor, and co-founder of SparkRental. His mission: to help 5,000 people reach financial independence by replacing their 9-5 jobs with rental income. If you want to be one of them, join Brian, Deni, and guest Scott Hoefler for a free masterclass on how Scott ditched his day job in under five years.
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Glad to come across this article, have been looking to read good books for a long time.
Glad to hear it was helpful Jack!
The book on rental property investing is a brilliant book. It is a must read for all landlords.
Thanks for the feedback Mathew!
These are great books. A must read for real estate people.
Agreed Leo!
Thanks for sharing these best books for investing in real estate, great picks!
I was planning to start reading real estate books. These will be a good start!
Glad to hear it Rossie!
Thanks for sharing! I will definitely check out these books to help me better understand Property Management.
Let us know your thoughts after reading one or two of these Keri!
I’m glad to land on this page. I am new to REI looking for learning materials. Thanks!
Glad to hear it was helpful Miss Jacky!
I think I will start reading “The ABCs of Real Estate Investing” by Ken McElroy. I am new to Real Estate Investment and am looking for the fundamentals. Any feedback on that choice?
That’s a great book to start with Melissa!