Unlike residential, nearly every commercial real estate buyer is an investor.

@Taylor Smith If you’re looking to become an investor Brandon Turner has a list of 21 excellent books for investors on his Better Life Podcast from last Friday night.

For beginning investors the financing is critical, but more experienced buyers rely less on financing because they have other avenues of getting the funds to close.

I saw first hand the success of other RE investors having worked in a number of construction jobs. 

Like many new investors, I had little cash and no access to traditional lenders.

Since you’re focused on buy & hold multiplexes, consider networking with local investors, refining your underwriting skills, and researching markets with strong cash flow and appreciation potential.

However based on these experiences still seem too risky versus just going after some of the options with RealCrowd that seem attractive and proven. 

I met an investor broker and am considering becoming an RE agent to gain experience and surround myself with the network and environment of real estate investors. 

To be successful as a real estate investor in any form - except maybe purchasing the Vanguard REIT index fund - an investor needs education, knowledge and understanding of real estate principles, real estate law, and real estate finance.  

Start by learning the basics of finding and analyzing deals, networking with investors, and understanding contracts.