The Best Real Estate Books for Beginners

Real estate investing is full of terms and concepts that are foreign to most people who are not investors yet. As such, it can be really difficult to pick up a book and start learning.

So, this guide will list the best books for the total beginner.

To be included in this list for beginner real estate investors, the books can’t jump into too much jargon and terms without first explaining them in great detail. Additionally, they don’t go into advanced techniques without first covering the basic investing techniques that lead up to them.

If you’re above the beginner level, we have a more comprehensive list of more advanced real estate investing books you can find here.

1. The ABCs of Real Estate Investing: The Secrets of Finding Hidden Profits Most Investors Miss

By Ken McElroy

I like this book because it really breaks everything down for the total beginner.

A lot of books have a ton of information, but if they can’t give that information in an easy to read fashion for the total newbie, then it’s really a waste of money. This book fixes that problem.

It’s highly rated, is written by Ken McElroy who worked with Robert Kiyosaki, and is full of knowledge.

You’ll cover a ton of different topics in this book. From finding property with true potential to negotiating deals, the fundamentals are all in here.

Additionally, you’ll work through some of the mental barriers that hold you back when just getting started, and understanding how wealth and cash flow can be achieved through real estate.

You’ll also learn about some management tools to help keep your time free so you can focus on earning more, rather than on being dragged into the daily operations of your real estate portfolio.

2. The Book on Rental Property Investing

By Brandon Turner

I’ve had a number of conversations with Brandon and I must say he’s one of the few well known personalities and marketers that actually knows a thing or two about real estate.

Usually, the really famous people are good at marketing but are just a face while others handle the actual real estate business. Brandon is the real deal.

Brandon’s book is focused on one thing – giving you every strategy or technique you need to become a millionaire real estate investor. This book helps you sift through the junk to find the gems of knowledge you need to truly make it.

This book has something in it for the newbies or the experienced investors, so everyone will walk away with something for their time.

You’ll find some interesting and funny real life examples along with some practical and exciting strategies that people all over the world are using to invest and build wealth and cash flow from rental property.

3. The ABCs of Property Management: What You Need to Know to Maximize Your Money Now

By Ken McElroy

Alright, another book by Ken. But they are pretty solid, that’s why they are on here.

Here’s the thing, most people buy rental property but have no plan after that.

You’ve made the big real estate acquisition, now ask yourself – How are you going to to make it profitable? How are you going to maximize profits, reduce expenses, etc?

Management is the answer.

Management is the true secret to success. In this book, Ken will teach you the most important principles to achieving success with successful property management where others fail.

4. The Book on Flipping Houses: How to Buy, Rehab, and Resell Residential Properties

By Mr. J Scott

Unfortunately, I’ve never had a chance to meet J. Scott, but I’ve been following him for years (sounds creepy, right?).

If you’re ready to get started flipping houses, J Scott’s got your back.

J Scott is a very experienced house flipper and he’s going to walk you through the fundamentals of getting started as a real estate investor in this book.

There are over 350 pages of super detailed and step-by-step training which is perfect for the absolute newbie. Seasoned investors can take away some new strategies as well to help grow an amazing house flipping business.

5. The Flipping Blueprint: The Complete Plan for Flipping Houses and Creating Your Real Estate-Investing Business

By Luke Webber

The title really isn’t original, but you get exactly what it says. You are getting a blueprint for house flipping.

So, as expected, this book contains everything you need to begin or grow as a real estate investor.

It goes down deep and covers something as fundamental as how to present yourself to other real estate professionals, how/where to find good real estate deals, how to communicate with private lenders.

It also goes over things like choosing contractors, maximizing profits, reducing costs on your flips, etc.

6. Build a Rental Property Empire

By Mark Ferguson

I’ve had the chance to meet Mark a couple times. He’s a great guy who really knows his stuff as he is a Realtor, house flipper, and landlord. He owns a ton of property, flips a ton of houses, and sells a ton of property.

In this book he holds nothing back when discussing deals, financing properties, and a ton more.

This book has over 300 pages of great knowledge written by Mark himself. It gives you the step-by-step playbook you need to find, analyze, offer, finance, manage, and sell your real estate.

So, if you’re missing any piece of the puzzle, this book should help fill in the gaps.

Why Real Estate Investing Books For Beginners?

While it’s probably not 100% true that you need 10,000 hours of practice to become an expert at something, it is true that becoming an expert requires a lot of work and dedication.

Obviously, the best way to learn about real estate investing is to actually buy a rental property or try to flip a house. But, most people don’t want to jump right into a 6 figure project without first knowing a little bit about it.

Studying and reading the best real estate books will help you get that basic level of knowledge that you absolutely require in order to get started.

Sure, it’s impossible to learn all the nuances from a book, but without first reading, you won’t even know what to look for in order to learn those nuances to real estate investing!

We’ve taken the time to compile hundreds of different books, software, etc for real estate investors.

Beginners Need to Read Books on Real Estate

Most of the world’s most successful business people read a ton of books. There is a reason why even the most successful people read books – because even they don’t know everything and are always trying to learn.

So, if the most successful people are reading, as a newbie, you should be reading every real estate book for beginners that you can find!

After 6 or 7 books you’ll find that you understand the topics well and might even find yourself skipping sections.

After 10 or 15 books you’ll find that each book might only add a couple tidbits of knowledge.

Finally, you’ll be in a position where you know enough about real estate that you’ll feel confident taking your first steps as a real estate investor, even if you are a total beginner.

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