15 Best Books, Podcasts, and Courses to Learn About Real Estate Investing

Learning about real estate investing can be overwhelming for both experienced and new investors. With so many charlatans pitching courses and get-rich-quick schemes, it can be challenging to figure out who to trust.

That's why we've curated this list of the best real estate investing books, podcasts, and courses that will help you level up your knowledge and achieve your investing goals, whether you want to build wealth as a flipper or by managing rental properties.

Beyond traditional real estate investments, apps are changing how we invest our money. They're democratizing opportunities so that smaller investors can invest in institutional-quality investment property starting with only $500.

But how do you build the knowledge to pursue the real estate investment strategy that’s right for you? Keep reading for the 15 most valuable resources we recommend to help you get started.

BiggerPockets Website and Podcast

BiggerPockets is one of the most popular real estate forums and podcasts in the industry. "BP" offers both free and paid memberships ($39 per month or $390 per year) to its website, but most investors will do just fine with the basic level access. The BP forums are a valuable resource for connecting with other investors, learning about a variety of real estate topics, and finding deals. Premium features include property analysis calculators, market rental data and insights, and virtual events.

The BP podcast is released weekly on Thursdays and already has over 450 free episodes you can listen to. Guests range from industry professionals offering valuable tips to newbies sharing how they completed their first deals. You can subscribe through your favorite podcast player, listen on their site, or select individual episodes that interest you.

Who is this a good fit for? BiggerPockets offers a supportive community and an abundance of free content for beginners. Experienced investors will find value in its premium tools and ability to network with potential partners.

BiggerPockets Fans Facebook Group

Many people who love BiggerPockets still prefer the comfort of a platform they're already familiar with. The BiggerPockets Fans Facebook Group is where many BP members spend much of their free time. This group is not affiliated with BiggerPockets, but was created by people who love real estate and the type of information BP provides.

You don't have to provide any additional personal information, have a paid subscription to BP, or learn a new layout to start learning from this community. New posts and replies will integrate automatically into your normal feed. This way you don't have to bounce back and forth between two platforms to stay in touch with the latest information. In this group, members share the good, the bad, and the ugly of real estate investing while offering resources and encouragement.

Who is this a good fit for? This Facebook group is a good choice for people that spend a lot of time on Facebook and prefer to interact with a single platform.

Rich Dad, Poor Dad

This must-read personal finance book by Robert Kiyosaki has been a favorite among real estate investors for over 20 years. Rich Dad, Poor Dad tells the tale of Robert and the two father figures in his life. His biological father has a traditional job and teaches his son to study and work hard so he can build a career. His other "father" is the dad of his best friend who teaches him about the power of investing and having your money work for you.

The book shares stories about how both fathers shape Robert's views on money and investing. You'll learn why Robert believes your home is not an asset, why you don't need a high income to be rich, and the difference between an asset and a liability. Additionally, he shows parents why they can't rely on the school system to teach children about money.

Rich Dad, Poor Dad has been translated into dozens of languages and has been sold around the world. It has branched out into a series of Rich Dad, Poor Dad books touching on a variety of topics, including using credit cards, increasing your financial IQ, and the "cashflow quadrant." Robert has even created a board game to teach people these concepts.

Who is this a good fit for? Unconventional thinkers who are open to redefining the traditional definitions of assets and liabilities.

The Ultimate Guide to Getting Started in Real Estate Investing

Brought to you by FinanceBuzz (and myself), I can personally vouch for the fact that The Ultimate Guide to Getting Started in Real Estate Investing helpfully explains the types of real estate investing, how to fund deals, where to find properties, and more. This step-by-step guide also discusses how to build your real estate team to increase your chances of success. You'll learn what to do when you're ready to buy and when it's time to sell.

Of great importance are the lessons on the most common mistakes in real estate investing. These mistakes can cost you money and reduce the profitability of your properties, so pay close attention to this section.

Who is this a good fit for? People who want a broad overview of real estate investing with actionable tips on the fundamentals.

The ABCs of Real Estate Investing

This is another book from the Rich Dad publishing company, but it is written by Ken McElroy, a seasoned real estate investor. The ABCs of Real Estate Investing teaches readers how to find properties with real potential, negotiate deals, and increase income through proven property management tools.

As the book's title suggests, the tips inside focus on "the secrets of finding hidden profits most investors miss." It follows the Rich Dad strategies of achieving wealth and cash flow through investing money in real estate and unlocking the myths that hold most investors back.

Who is this a good fit for? Fans of Robert Kiyosaki and the Rich Dad, Poor Dad series of books.

Cash Flow Diary Podcast

J. Massey is a real estate investor who started his podcast as a way to teach his children about real estate investing. He wanted his children to have a thorough knowledge of these investments in case something happened to him.

The Cash Flow Diary podcast has over 600 episodes focused on creating cash-flowing rental properties and side hustles. Recently, the website and podcast have been more narrowly focused on short-term rental properties, like Airbnb or Vrbo, but many of the lessons available apply to any type of real estate investor.

Who is this a good fit for? Investors who are interested in short-term rental property investing.

The Book on Tax Strategies for the Savvy Real Estate Investor

Tax planning is important in every business, but it can be even more critical with real estate investing. Real estate has specific tax laws that can be very advantageous to investors looking to reduce their taxable income. From writing off depreciation to delaying capital gains taxes with a 1031 Exchange, real estate investors can implement many strategies that aren't available to other investors.

The Book on Tax Strategies for the Savvy Real Estate Investor is written by CPAs Amanda Han and Matthew MacFarland. It offers methods to maximize tax deductions, tips to reduce bookkeeping time, and simple procedures to protect you from an IRS audit.

Who is this a good fit for? People who want to minimize their tax burden as a real estate investor.

Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat

Rental property investors often use a combination of cash and loans to finance their rentals. The buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat method — also known more simply as the BRRRR method — builds upon that strategy by showing readers how to use specific lending programs to maximize the number of properties they can own with their available cash.

David Greene lays out his strategies in Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat. His book offers a solid plan for getting started, how to recover 100% of your money in a deal, and unique ways to increase a property's value.

Who is this a good fit for? Investors looking to purchase distressed properties that will increase in value after rehabbing them.

Master Passive Income Real Estate Investing Course

Dustin Heiner successfully used real estate to quit his traditional job after creating enough passive income from rental properties to replace his W-2 income. After teaching numerous people how to start investing in real estate, he launched Master Passive Income to help the most people, most effectively.

In his free online course, beginners learn how to prepare for investing, the process of a transaction, how to find properties, and more. Beyond the free online course articles on his website and his podcast, Dustin also offers a free book called How to Quit Your Job with Rental Properties. You just pay for shipping.

Investors who are looking for more have the opportunity to purchase additional books, individual courses, and membership in the Real Estate Wealth Builders community. Membership includes group coaching, premium courses, and access to this community.

Who is this a good fit for? People with traditional jobs who want to learn how to build enough passive income through rental properties to achieve financial independence and quit their job.

The Best Ever Show Podcast

Joe Fairless is the host of the longest-running daily real estate podcast. He interviews investors with an emphasis on apartment syndications and passive real estate investing. His podcast interviews avoid the fluff you might find on other shows and get right to the point to focus solely on the information you need. With its daily cadence, there are already over 2,000 episodes where guests offer advice and share how they've found success as real estate investors.

In addition to the podcast, Joe also organizes the Best Ever Real Estate Conference, which offers opportunities to network in-person with other investors.

Who is this a good fit for? People who want to learn from focused interviews with experienced investors.

The Book on Rental Property Investing

Brandon Turner is a real estate entrepreneur who literally wrote The Book on Rental Property Investing. He's been the co-host of the BiggerPockets podcast for many years and has personally closed on numerous residential and commercial transactions. The book is the number-one bestseller from BiggerPockets with over half a million units sold.

The book covers both practical and advanced strategies to help real estate investors build significant cash flow with rental properties. In the book, Brandon shows how to create an achievable plan, find incredible deals, analyze properties, and more. Topics also include why so many investors fail, actionable ideas for financing rentals, and tax strategies.

Who is this a good fit for? Real estate investors who want to build a portfolio of rental properties through buy-and-hold investing.

Skillshare

Skillshare is a membership-based online learning platform with courses on a wide variety of topics. Students can choose between free and premium memberships, though the selection of free courses is limited.

You can start by just trying out a seven-day trial Premium membership before being charged dues of either $19 per month or $99 per year. While the free membership is limited, Premium membership includes unlimited access to classes, downloads for offline access, and other benefits, so you may find it worthwhile once you check out the trial.

As of the date of this article, there are almost 40 real estate courses available on Skillshare covering a variety of topics. Courses on Skillshare range from wholesaling contracts to buying your first home to learning how to flip a property. The courses vary in length from about 15 minutes to over three hours and are created by experienced real estate investors who want to share their knowledge.

Who is this a good fit for? Investors who want access to a variety of classes from actual real estate investors for one low price.

The Book on Estimating Rehab Costs

When making an offer on distressed properties, the rehab cost can be one of the biggest variables in your calculation. Whether you're flipping a home or buying it as a rental, rehab costs can make the difference between profit and loss. The Book on Estimating Rehab Costs by J. Scott helps investors develop a renovation plan and build a budget for each project.

J. Scott is an experienced real estate investor who has completed hundreds of successful rehab projects. His tips include which upgrades offer the biggest return, how to recognize big problems, and how to determine which contractors are best for each repair.

Who is this a good fit for? This book is a valuable resource for both fix-and-flip investors and buy-and-hold investors who need help determining a property's rehab budget.

r/RealEstate - Reddit

Reddit is a popular online community that offers numerous sub-Reddits on various topics. The r/RealEstate subreddit is one of many channels on this platform that is focused on real estate investing. Anonymous members share tips, ask for advice, and provide feedback in these channels.

Because of its anonymous nature, readers should be aware that not everything shared on this platform is accurate. On the flip side, because it is anonymous, many people are also willing to divulge detailed information openly because it generally cannot be traced back to them.

Who is this a good fit for? Fans of Reddit who are comfortable with the anonymous environment of the community.

Roofstock Academy

Roofstock is one of the many fintech platforms making real estate investing more accessible to average investors. The Rooftstock Academy is designed by veteran real estate investors and was launched in 2015. Its goal is to help investors learn about real estate investing through a membership-based program.

The training program claims to teach students "how to build $100K in passive income through real estate investing." Membership options include Coaching, which is one-on-one coaching sessions only, or the Mastery Program, which includes lectures plus coaching as well as additional support. The course cost is spread over several months, or there's a discount if you pay in full.

Who is this a good fit for? People who want one-on-one coaching and are interested in single-family or multi-family rental property investing.

FAQs

Bottom line

There are many quality sources of real estate information available, and much of it is free. Successful real estate investors make a point to continue to learn throughout their investing lifetime. However, don't use learning as an excuse to delay execution on your first deal.

Instead, study a specific type of real estate deal, execute a transaction, analyze the results, and then repeat the process. These behaviors will reinforce your education while generating real-life results along the way.

Remember that any type of investing is inherently risky. Following the instructions found in real estate books, podcasts, and courses may yield dramatically different results for you, even if they worked well for someone else. Learn from their advice and adjust it to fit your scenario, but remain vigilant throughout the investing process to protect yourself.

FinanceBuzz is not an investment advisor. This content is for informational purposes only, you should not construe any such information as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.