New to Real Estate

[Ray Gregory]

Hello everyone, 

My name is Ken and I am currently learning everything I can about trying to enter the real estate market. I’m not really sure were I want to start. I am absorbing every bit of knowledge I can, I am reading books and listening to audio books. If anyone has any suggestion’s, I would love to hear them. I am extremely excited about starting this venture.

[John Mason]

Ken Welcome to Bigger Pockets and I wish you all the best in your investing journey!!

See if you can get a copy of The Millionnaire Real Estate Investor by Keller.

[Min Zhang]

Consider starting with a house hack or a turnkey cash flow rental for your first investment. Best of luck, and I’m happy to connect if you have any questions

[Robin Simon]

Welcome to BP!

[Lindsey Pavlov]

Hi!

The books mentioned above are a great place to start! You're in an incredible area for long term rentals and vacation rentals. Decide on what you'd like to focus on as a first step. 

If you need any local recommendations, please feel free to message me. I'm happy to help connect you with professional and helpful agents or property managers from Pensacola to Panama City!

[Samuel Diouf]

Welcome to Bigger Pockets Ray!

BP is a great place to learn and connect with fellow investors.

I'm originally from the Panhandle area and moved to Ohio for the investment opportunities.

[Max Wilhite]

Welcome @Ray Gregory 

The audiobooks are great, and you should check out the podcast. Specifically the rookie show. It really helped me starting out.

[Sam McCormack]

Quote from @Ray Gregory:

Hello everyone, 

My name is Ken and I am currently learning everything I can about trying to enter the real estate market. I’m not really sure were I want to start. I am absorbing every bit of knowledge I can, I am reading books and listening to audio books. If anyone has any suggestion’s, I would love to hear them. I am extremely excited about starting this venture.

 So many different directions to go. Others have said it, but househacking is the best introductory depending on your personal situation, like family. OOS investing is good as well, but get to know your city you are looking in before pulling the trigger! 

[Nick Belsky]

@Ray Gregory

Welcome to the community and be ready for a huge amount of information at your finger tips. Be sure to check out the free tools BP provides to help analyze deals you may have and also market insights. Great tools that get updated regularly.

I am on the lending side of things and would be happy to hop on a call with you anytime to discuss financial strategies and help answer any questions you may have about nearly any loan product available to help you on your journey, even if they are not products my capital partners offer.

I just gave a list of my recommended reading to another poster, but will happily post it here again.

Personally, my short list of books to explore:

Set For Life by @Scott Trench

Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

ABCs of Real Estate Investing by Ken McElroy

ABCs of Buying Rental Property by Ken McElroy

Loopholes of Real Estate by Garrett Sutton, Esq

Tax-Free Wealth by Tom Wheelwright, CPA

The Power of Zero by David McKnight

REIT Investing for Beginners by Lawrence Smith

What Would the Rockefellers Do? by Garret Gunderson

Some of these go beyond the core of Real Estate themselves and into personal wealth building, life, etc... but I have found much inspiration from these titles. By no means is this an exhausted list.

We are all here to help you learn and grow. Feel free to ask anything, anytime.

Cheers!

[Mackaylee Beach]

Hey Ken! Welcome to BP and congratulations on seeking to begin your real estate journey.

Are you looking to invest, purchase a home to live in, or perhaps explore commercial properties? Once you've pinpointed your objectives, it's important to assess your financial situation. This includes understanding your budget, securing financing if needed, and determining what you can comfortably afford.

Research is key. Delve into market trends, neighborhoods, and property types that align with your goals. Consider consulting with real estate professionals who can provide valuable insights and guidance.

As you move forward, remember to remain flexible and open to opportunities that arise. Real estate is a dynamic field, and adaptability can lead to discovering unexpected gems.

Finally, enjoy the process. Each step brings you closer to achieving your dreams, and with careful planning and perseverance, you’re sure to find success on your real estate journey.

[Jordan D'Silva]

Welcome, Ken! It sounds like you’re on the right track by building a strong knowledge base. A good starting point might be deciding whether you want to focus on rental properties, flipping, or another niche—each has its own learning curve and opportunities. If you’re looking for book recommendations or want to chat about getting started, feel free to reach out. Happy to help however I can!

[Kaylee Walterbach]

Set for Life! It's a great starter book for the financial foundations of real estate investing: https://store.biggerpockets.com/products/set-for-life-revise...

I would also recommend Small and Mighty by Chad Carson: https://store.biggerpockets.com/products/small-and-mighty-re...

Real Estate Rookie: https://store.biggerpockets.com/products/real-estate-rookie

House Hacking: https://store.biggerpockets.com/products/the-house-hacking-s...

[Landon Mizuguchi]

Welcome! This is a great start.