For the real estate investor looking to broaden their knowledge of the asset class and gain ground on their competitors, there are many different books available today that can help. By reading about the experiences of other, more experienced individuals in the real estate industry, you can dramatically improve your own investment strategies for future projects.
From learning how to manage residential rentals to alternatively investing in REITs and commercial real estate, there are books on this list that will teach you about every aspect of the industry.
If you’re a new to property investor or looking to take your projects to the next level, check out these top 6 real estate investing books that can make you a better property investor.
1. The Book on Rental Property Investing
If rental property investing is an avenue of interest for you, you’ll want to look out for The Book on Rental Property Investing by Brandon Turner. Turner is an experienced investor, author, and real estate podcast co-host at BiggerPockets.com, who regularly shares his insights on how to find rental investment properties, how to analyze and manage them, and which mistakes to avoid.
The Book on Rental Property Investing comes highly recommended by its readers as a valuable source of rental knowledge for landlords, new or seasoned. Turner further helps readers to create achievable rental investment plans, informs them on how to find the best deals and explains the easiest-to-use strategies. Ultimately, Turner’s book is a great option for investors who want to get started with rental properties as soon as they possible can.
2. Commercial Real Estate Investing For Dummies
Is residential real estate a “been there, done that” kind of deal for you? Then this guide to commercial real estate investing is the solution. Commercial Real Estate Investing For Dummies by Peter Conti and Peter Harris offers readers an easy-to-understand overview of the different types of commercial real estate investment options and the basics of managing CR properties.
This book is ideal for investors who find themselves in the introductory phase of commercial real estate and gives a broader view of the industry, it’s various sectors and what potential they can hold for you.
Commercial Real Estate Investing For Dummies teaches readers other great tips too, like how to find leads and determine their worth, how to finance it or raise capital and how to perform due diligence before purchasing.
3. How to Invest in Real Estate: The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Getting Started
If you have no experience in real estate investing but you’re looking for a way to get started, then this is the book you should read first. How to Invest in Real Estate: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Getting Started is designed for real estate investors that need simple and tangible steps to get started. This book gives the reader a thorough overview of various investment strategies for purchasing and owning residential real estate.
This book is a joint venture between BiggerPockets author of The Book on Rental Property Investing Brandon Turner and his BiggerPockets colleague Joshua Dorkin.
Turner and Dorkin’s ultimate goal with this book is to help real estate investors who are completely new to the industry get up to speed about what real estate investing is all about, and how they can take the first step, without feeling overwhelmed.
4. Rich Dad Poor Dad
The chances are good that you have either read or heard of this one! Love it or hate it, this classic investment book has become a classic for a reason. Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki has become renowned for teaching many around the world the basic principles behind building wealth from assets, how to avoid liability when investing and the difference between earning active and passive income.
In general, Kiyosaki guides the reader in ways to invest in real estate and become financially independent through sound decision-making by talking about his experiences with a “poor dad” who doesn’t invest, versus a friend’s “rich dad” who is clued up on financial investing.
Rich Dad Poor Dad is considered to be the most influential personal finance book of all time and has consistently been in print for over 20 years.
5. Achieving Wealth Through Real Estate
In Achieving Wealth Through Real Estate: A Definitive Guide To Controlling Your Own Financial Destiny Through a Successful Real Estate Business, author and serial entrepreneur Kirill Bensonoff takes you through the process of starting your own real estate business step-by-step.
This simple but detailed book shares key perspectives on all aspects of real estate as the basis of a successful business – discussing how to register the best legal structure, how to avoid paying excessive taxes, how to write a great business plan and be able to raise capital, and how to use technology to help you outperform your competition.
Bensonoff also clues the reader in on how to find off-market properties that nobody else has access to. This is particular useful for investors that want to get into the business of flipping houses. The book has been described by its readers as a unique and succinct guide on investing in real estate.
6. The Intelligent REIT Investor
The Intelligent REIT Investor by Stephanie Krewson-Kelly provides the reader with an alternative approach to real estate investment to other options on this list. The book is focused on the best Real Estate Investment Trusts or REITs – companies that typically own and finance commercial real estate projects by pooling investor funds. Many real estate investors are still unfamiliar with this form of investment, even though this option has been around for several years and offers historically high returns.
The Intelligent REIT Investor is made for lone investors, financial planners, and individuals who are interested in potentially earning income from dividends.
With a few or all of these books in hand, there is almost no challenge the real estate investor cannot overcome successfully. The entrepreneurs and investors that are behind these books can offer newer investors invaluable insight on how to get ahead in various sectors of the real estate industry. At the end of the day, when choosing real estate books to read and study from, it’s best to find the book that you feel is most suited to what your long-term real estate goals are.