Start with Strategy

Simplify your real estate goals with a portfolio plan that fits your personal values, resources, and skills.

Order from the BiggerPockets Bookstore for free, exclusive bonuses:


  • Investor PREP sheet examples and interviews
    Learn about successful investors’ personal investing strategies
  • Dave’s complete Strategy Toolkit 
    All the essential spreadsheets that come with the book.
  • The State of Real Estate Investing in 2024 Report
    Read about upcoming market trends in this 40-plus-page report by Dave Meyer.
  • Coaching mini-series with Dave Meyer
    View the recordings of three video calls that dive into the book's major themes (added in February)
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Real estate is a powerful way to build wealth and achieve financial freedom, but the investment options can be overwhelming. Should you flip houses or buy rental properties? Should you buy locally or invest out-of-state? In the wide world of real estate, it can be difficult to identify which strategy best supports your individual vision. There is no one-size-fits-all portfolio, and ongoing uncertainty can result in analysis paralysis, investing burnout, or losing sight of your values altogether.

In this book, Dave Meyer—host of the BiggerPockets On the Market podcast and best-selling author of Real Estate by the Numbers—gives you a practical framework to craft and execute YOUR personalized real estate plan. By combining foundational knowledge and actionable advice, this book will help condense your real estate dreams into a straightforward blueprint that you can follow for the rest of your investing career. When you Start with Strategy, you can achieve your financial goals with more confidence and certainty than ever before.

  • Create a personalized ‘buy-box’ to easily identify high-quality deals that are perfect for you

  • Assess your resources and find the best ways to allocate them

  • Develop long-term financial goals and a time horizon

  • Mitigate risk so your portfolio can withstand economic changes

  • Discover new ways to maximize returns and optimize growth across your portfolio

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  • We're confident in the quality of our books. If you're not satisfied with your purchase, you can return your book for a full refund within 30 days.
  • For returns, refunds, or the status of your order, you can contact [email protected].

Customer Rating and Reviews

Customer Reviews

Based on 39 reviews
95%
(37)
5%
(2)
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J
Jeff L. (Ponte Vedra, FL)
Would be a solid text book for colleges

I appreciate Dave’s ability to help someone create a solid process and plan for RE investing based on their personal
risk tolerance and preferences. The book is well thought out providing plenty of structure for new investors. A lot of the information is regularly talked about on BP and OTM pods which reinforces numerous investment strategies. The book has a friendly tone but could use a little more humor/entertainment value like the pods. Overall a 5/5 and would be a great gift for a new investor. Pairs well with the other BP books offering actionable incites throughout.

I
I.M. (Jacksonville, FL)

I'm loving the book.

G
Gregory E. (Boston, MA)
Fantastic book for beginners

This book is a great way to help people who have never invested in real estate. It walks through very basic things and expands to provide a solid, easy to follow foundation. The components of this book are very logically laid out.

A
Angel L. (Chino, CA)
Clarity!

Dave provides a very clear step by step process to beginning one’s investment career. I had been feeling overwhelmed with the consumption of real estate books, podcasts and webinars. However after reading this book I feel more comfortable beginning this journey. Thanks Dave!

D
Daniel Y. (Buffalo, NY)
Get this book!

I’ve purchased many books by Biggerpockets. This is BY FAR the most complete book for beginners and established REI enthusiasts! The distinction made between tactics and strategy made a huge difference in my approach to REI. The portfolio management model presented by Dave Meyer takes the investors current situation, resources and future goals into account and really takes the hype out of investing. He really conveys the message to design your desired future life well, treating each reader as a unique individual. This book will be referenced for years to come! Thank you Dave, and thank you again Biggerpockets!

About the Author

DAVE MEYER has spent his career working in the technology industry while also investing in real estate. In 2016, he took the opportunity to combine his professional passions for real estate and technology and joined BiggerPockets, where he now serves as the VP of Data and Analytics. Dave has been a rental property investor in Colorado since 2010 and invests passively nationwide. He's also the host of the BiggerPockets On the Market podcast, which started in 2022 and is growing rapidly as a one-stop source for all things real estate analytics. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling, eating sandwiches, and being outside. He currently lives in Amsterdam, Netherlands.