Reading is my favorite way to learn about anything, especially real estate. There are hundreds – if not thousands – of real estate books out there, so deciding on which books are worth your time can be difficult. All three of these books have made a significant impact in my real estate journey, and I hope they do the same for you.
“Retire Early with Real Estate” by Chad Carson
This is the first book I recommend to friends who want to learn more about real estate. Chad clearly put a lot of time and thought into this book and it shows – it’s fantastic for beginners! Like most real estate books, this one starts with a “Why Real Estate” chapter, then describes different strategies new investors can use to get started.
One unique aspect of this book I really enjoy are the “Profiles of a Real Estate Early Retiree” in which Chad provides examples of people that have retired early with real estate and how they did it. These are interspersed throughout the book and are relevant to the chapter in which they are included.
Since its designed for novices, this book doesn’t go super into depth on the “how” and it doesn’t get into the weeds with financial numbers, which I think is actually ideal for a beginner book. Chad Carson’s podcast is fantastic as well – definitely check it out.
“Long-Distance Real Estate Investing” by David Greene
David Greene was working as a police officer in San Francisco, and realized he couldn’t afford to invest in the bay area. So he figured out how to invest in more affordable markets with better cash flow, and in his book, he shares everything he learned from that process.
“Long-Distance Real Estate Investing” created an enormous “lightbulb” moment for me: you don’t have to live where you invest. It stressed the importance of having a great team, especially when you are investing long-distance. It was soon after reading this book that I heard about turnkey investing and within a year I had bought two single family rentals in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, without ever setting foot in the state. I still own those properties and they continue to perform well.
David co-hosts the Bigger Pockets podcast with Brandon Turner. He is extremely knowledgeable about real estate and I highly recommend listening to that podcast as well as reading his book.
“The Book on Rental Property Investing” by Brandon Turner
This is a modern classic that is a must-read for anyone interested in real estate investing. I have referenced this book multiple times since reading it because it has so much fantastic information.
This is a dense book that covers a wide range of information, but it’s also highly readable and beginner-friendly. Brandon covers the “why” of rental property investing, as well as how to find a great team, different types of properties, what to think about when deciding on a location, how to make offers, how to close, how to manage tenants, and how to handle selling a rental property.
Thanks for reading! Please comment below with your favorite real estate books. Also, I encourage you to send me an email at doug@honorandequity.com if you want to discuss more books. Connect with me on Instagram @honorandequity as well!