You can learn more about investing from various sources: webinars, lessons with a mentor, or real personal experience. Each option is great in its own way. Alongside these, there are the best real estate investing books that will become reliable guides when you want to become a true professional and earn money by investing in real estate in one way or another. For every method, there's already a developed strategy. Each book reveals important aspects of these strategies in its own unique way. That’s why it’s worth embarking on this journey into the world of investing, armed with the right materials.
Why Read Real Estate Investing Books?
Whether you’re already investing or just planning to take your first steps, books on how to invest can help. This literature allows you to understand how investing works overall, explore various investment options and strategies, and even identify which methods work best for short-term or long-term goals. Instead of reinventing the wheel, you can simply pick up the best books to learn how to invest, compare different strategies, and choose the ones that suit your needs best.
Books are like teachers and mentors, ready to share a variety of experiences. As a result, you gain several benefits:
- You learn which options may not work or are too risky. This way, you avoid common pitfalls.
- You see different practical approaches to investing and understand that it can take many directions: investments in stocks, real estate, currency, precious metals, and more. You can see how to carve your path in each approach.
- You can have not just one but several mentors, who become the best books to learn how to invest. It’s like having a personal conversation—a wealth of experience shared with you by the best in the field, revealing their cards and secrets to success. You can absorb these lessons at your own pace, and revisit and reread to master everything thoroughly.
- You see real approaches, studies, and examples, bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. Some books, like those by Robert Kiyosaki, may focus more on philosophy and motivation. Alongside these, there are guidebooks like “Real Estate Investing for Dummies" by Eric Tyson and Robert S. Griswold.
The best real estate investing books sharpen your understanding, unraveling the complexities of each topic and breaking down the information into manageable, digestible portions. With their help, you’ll learn to make informed decisions, manage your assets, grow them, and increase your profits. You’ll also develop the ability to spot opportunities that even technical or fundamental market analysis may not reveal.
For beginner and professional investors, literature helps you see a comprehensive approach, not just isolated details. Moreover, these books demonstrate working with long-term perspectives (and real estate investment is always a long-term game). You can return to a how-to-invest book at any time, assess where you are, and determine where you want to grow next. It’s your map, compass, guide, and mentor in the complex world of investing.
Criteria for Selecting the Best Real Estate Investing Books
There are so many books by authors with different levels of expertise and experience. How do you choose the best real estate investing books and ensure you’re getting truly valuable and useful information?
- Choose books from authors who have real investment experience and can share the intricacies and nuances that others might not know. Books written about renowned professionals can also be useful, but they tend to focus more on philosophy and mindset—great for inspiration and motivation but often not enough for a deep understanding of the subject of investing.
- Before purchasing and reading a new book, check the reviews from other readers and its overall rating in the category of investment books. Read several reviews across different sites—this step will help you filter out books that aren’t worth your attention.
- If you're aiming to invest in real estate, information from a how to make money in the stock market book can be useful for general knowledge, but it won't be relevant to your specific goal. Instead, focus on more practical literature.
Unfortunately, popularity doesn’t always equal quality. Most bestsellers are written in a simplified way to appeal to a broad audience. However, you'll often have to deal with scientific and technical terms and more complex material. It's from these lesser-known but practically applicable books that you'll gain the most valuable lessons.
Top 7 Real Estate Investing Books for 2024
Real estate investing is a dynamic field, and having the right knowledge can greatly influence your success. Here are seven must-read books for 2024 that offer invaluable insights, strategies, and practical advice for both beginners and experienced investors.
The Millionaire Real Estate Investor" by Gary Keller
This is a must-read for everyone. It captures the concentrated experience of the author, who is also the co-founder of Keller Williams Realty, and other successful investors. Keller conducted thorough research, interviewed top experts in the field, and gathered proven, effective strategies, which he details in this book. It will help you build a team, spot investment opportunities, and find optimal ways to finance deals. Each complex topic is explained in simple language, making it accessible to everyone. This book is valuable for beginners and professionals seeking new investment options or ways to navigate a crisis. Additionally, the book provides motivation and fosters a winner's mindset.
Rich Dad Poor Dad" by Robert T. Kiyosaki
This is a must-read for everyone, without exception, even if you’re not planning to invest in real estate or securities. If you're simply looking for an uplifting and motivating book, this is the one to pick up. You'll learn about assets and liabilities, the power of entrepreneurship, and the importance of financial freedom. This book is a primer on financial literacy, something every person should have.
"The Book on Rental Property Investing" by Brandon Turner
It’s great to have capital to start buying real estate, but not everyone has that luxury. However, you can build an investment portfolio through rental properties. Brandon Turner shares the finer details of how to do just that—how to secure the necessary finances, manage your investments, and scale your portfolio. Everything is described step by step, with practical actions, examples from his own experience, and methods that you can apply right away.
“Investing in Apartment Buildings” by Matthew A. Martinez**
This specialized book reveals the details of how to transition from earning on single-family homes to dealing with larger properties, such as apartment buildings. While the content may be challenging for beginners, professionals will find many valuable insights and learn how to grow and scale their businesses.
"Real Estate Investing for Dummies" by Eric Tyson and Robert S. Griswold
Another must-read, this is the beginner's bible for real estate investing. It guides readers from their first introduction to investing through to achieving practical results. The book dispels the myth that making a profit from investments is incredibly complex and only for those with substantial capital. In reality, it's both simpler and more complicated. How? Read Eric Tyson and Robert S. Griswold’s material to find out.
"The ABCs of Real Estate Investing" by Ken McElroy
Despite the title, this book discusses things that aren't obvious and are only known by those with real experience. Ken McElroy has that experience, and he generously shares his insights, rules, and methods. He explains how to find properties, make deals, manage investments, and gradually grow your income and scale up. The author also focuses on smart financing, risk management, and avoiding pitfalls. It’s a valuable and very practical guide for any real estate professional.
"Real Estate Riches" by Dolf de Roos
Dolf de Roos is a well-known name in the international investment market. He's an author who has achieved true success in high-yield real estate operations. In this book, he has gathered the best, most effective tips, tricks, and strategies for those ready to play in this market seriously and for the long term. This book is for advanced professionals looking to reach the next level. With "Real Estate Riches" as a guide, achieving this goal is entirely possible.
How to Choose the Right Book for You
When you've reviewed the list of the 7 best real estate investing books and found even more interesting options on your own, where should you start?
- Start with the one that matches your current level of knowledge and your long-term goals. For example, if you're not interested in stocks, currencies, or shares but are more curious about understanding how the real estate market works, pick up "Real Estate Investing for Dummies" by Eric Tyson and Robert S. Griswold. From there, you'll learn what will help you take your first steps right away. And the material isn't too difficult to grasp, making it a great choice for beginners.
- Choose the book that aligns with your goal, one that pushes you to achieve it. If your goal is to make money quickly, you need "The Book on Rental Property Investing" by Brandon Turner. If you've already read this and are ready to play the long game, pick up "The Millionaire Real Estate Investor" by Gary Keller. Each book is a roadmap. Choose your destination, and accordingly, the book that will guide you to it.
- The real estate field is full of subtopics: investing in apartment buildings, commercial real estate, residential properties, sales, rentals, and more. Each subtopic has its own dedicated book. "Investing in Apartment Buildings" by Matthew A. Martinez explores how to work in this sector, while Ken McElroy's "The ABCs of Real Estate Investing" guides you through different types of investments if you haven't yet made your choice and are still searching for your path.
Conclusion
As you can see, how-to-invest books can both provide an overview and “orient you on the landscape” as well as delve into the details that make an investor successful. Start with the basics and materials that are easy to understand, then dig deeper and craft your own investment strategy from the secrets generously revealed by professionals. They’ve made many mistakes, lost money, and faced risks that, thanks to books, you are now aware of, helping you skillfully avoid many pitfalls. So, if you're wondering whether it's worth spending your precious time on how-to-invest books, the answer is clear: yes. This literature is also part of your investment—an investment that will cost no more than a library membership or the price of a book at the store. It’s a smart move, even without further calculations!
