If you’re looking to get into the business of real estate investing, there are so many valuable resources out there that will help you gain the knowledge you need to get started. The best knowledge you can gain in real estate is experience. So, these books will help you feel confident to start your real estate investment journey. From there, you should aim to continue to learn as much as possible from both the field and from books. Researching and reading books from experts in real estate can be like your own real estate investing for dummies course. 

There are tons of books covering various topics in real estate. Below are some of the books that countless real estate sites and resources recommend over and over again. If you are looking to get started in real estate investing, these are the books you will want to check out.

If you’re just getting started in real estate investing, there are plenty of resources to help you gain the essential knowledge you need. Once you know the fundamentals and start getting experience, you can broaden your horizons and learn even more about real estate investing. There are hundreds of books on real estate, personal finance, development, and motivation. Researching, then reading and listening to books and podcasts from the experts can be like your own real estate investing for dummies. 

Below are some of the best tips to learn everything you need to know to get started in real estate investing. 

The Benefit of Reading Real Estate Books

Sure, free tools and resources online are great for teaching you just about everything you want to know. But, being online can also be really distracting. While you’re in the middle of learning about, say, deal analysis, an email notification pops up on your screen, and the next thing you know, it’s 30 minutes later. You’ve completely forgotten about the article. Books are great because they serve as an offline education tool that presents no distractions. Plus, you can bookmark important pages, highlight helpful information, and quickly pull the book to reference anything you read. 

The Best Real Estate Books for Beginners

How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie

This is not a book about real estate but rather a book about building relationships. As a real estate investor, especially in the beginning, building relationships will be one of the best things you can do for your career. This book outlines the fundamental principles of working with others and building better relationships. 

The Millionaire Real Estate Investor by Gary Keller

This is one of the best real estate investing books for beginners. Before they wrote it, the authors interviewed over 100 different successful real estate investors to understand the mentality of real estate millionaires. The book discusses helpful tips for getting into the real estate business and teaches beginners how to adopt the millionaire investor mindset.

The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason

This book is an excellent resource on personal finance. While not necessarily about real estate investing, it is an important lesson everyone needs to learn. Clason discusses the importance of paying yourself first and how to get out of debt while still giving yourself an income. Once you are out of debt, you can begin investing and growing your wealth.

Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! by Robert Kiyosaki

This is one of the best personal finance and investing books that many people have built wealth recommend. While it is not specifically a book on real estate, it is a book centered on personal wealth and the mindset it takes to get that. It follows a real-life rich dad and poor dad based on the author’s life. Through this story, the book teaches about financial literacy, making your money work for you, knowing the difference between assets and liabilities, and focusing on acquiring those assets. 

The ABCs of Real Estate Investing: The Secrets of Finding Hidden Profits Most Investors Miss by Ken McElroy

This is another great book for beginners about the basics of real estate investing. It covers all of the basics of real estate investing in a way that is easy to digest. Beginners will learn about finding good deals, property management, and negotiation through this book. 

Building Wealth One House at a Time by John Schaub

John Schaub is one of the most successful real estate investors in the industry. With more than 40 years in the business, he has succeeded in so many different investing methods. In this book, he offers very actionable, simple advice based on his own experiences. He provides a step-by-step system for gaining financial independence and building a fortune. This book covers negotiating deals, building a network, maintaining cash flow, and amortization of loans.

The Real Estate Wholesaling Bible: The Fastest, Easiest Way to Get Started in Real Estate Investing by Than Merrill

If you read our article on real estate wholesaling, you will know that wholesale real estate is one of the best investment strategies for anyone who does not have access to a lot of capital. It’s a straightforward way to gain wealth without much risk. In this book, Merrill provides insight on what you need to know to be profitable through wholesaling, including analyzing deals and developing effective systems. 

The Book on Rental Property Investing: How to Create Wealth with Intelligent Buy and Hold Real Estate Investing by Brandon Turner

This book is excellent for anyone looking to invest in rental properties. Turner provides strategies to help investors build cash flow and become wealthy rental property investors. He teaches you how to find good deals on properties and how to finance them. 

How to Invest in Real Estate: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guided to Getting Started by Brandon Turner and Josh Dorkin

This book is all about learning how to invest in real estate. Turner and Dorkin go over various real estate investment strategies like real estate wholesale and house flipping. They relate back to their own experiences and provide great advice for beginners who are just getting started investing. 

Recession-Proof Real Estate Investing: How to Survive (and Thrive!) During Any Phase of the Economic Cycle by J Scott

There is no better time than coming out of 2020 to read this book. This book emphasizes the importance of preparing for a recession as a real estate investor and what that looks like. It takes you through possible scenarios and strategies you can use to survive (and thrive) if a recession should ever happen again. It’s a must-read. 

The Book on Investing in Real Estate with No (and Low) Money Down: Real Life Strategies for Investing in Real Estate Using Other People’s Money by Brandon Turner

Many people are afraid to get into real estate because they think they have to have a lot of money to get started. In his book, Turner talks about making money using non-traditional financing techniques to succeed in real estate investing and get ahead of your competition.

What Every Real Estate Investor Needs to Know About Cash Flow…And 36 Other Key Financial Measures by Frank Gallinelli

Success in real estate investing is about relying on the numbers to tell you what decisions to make. This book provides key guidelines and formulas for investors to make smart investments. Gallinelli teaches you how to evaluate the value of an investment property and calculate its potential returns over time.. This is a great book for beginners, as it book is essentially real estate investing for dummies. Beginners will gain tons of knowledge, and it’s a great book to reference back to at any point in your career. 

The Book on Flipping Houses: How to Buy, Rehab, and Resell Residential Properties by J Scott

If you are looking to get into house flipping, this book provides a thorough and comprehensive guide to the business. Scott provides details on how to make sure each flip you do comes back with great returns. You will learn tips on how to find the right property, how to budget and finance, what renovations to make, managing contractors, and finally, selling the home and getting your profit.

Every Landlord’s Legal Guide by Marcia Stewart, Ralph Warner, and Janet Portman

If you are looking to invest in properties that you will be managing, this is the book for you. It is a detailed guide that navigates all of the legal issues you will face as a landlord. The book covers a ton of topics like eviction and subletting. If this is a type of real estate investment you plan to get into, this is a great read.

The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferris

This book is last on the list for a reason. Once you have all of the other books’ knowledge and are running a successful real estate investment business, come back and read this one. It’s all about putting the systems in place so that you don’t have to do all of the hard work. If you take the time to define your goals and create a robust business plan, you can outsource your work and spend more time for yourself and your other interests.

These are just a few of the great resources you should read to better understand real estate investing. For more great advice, check out our other articles.