How to Become a Real Estate Investor: 4 Key Steps to Take

November 4, 2021November 4, 2021 by Nick Jones

Investing in real estate can open the door to success and wealth you’ve only ever dreamed of. While these types of investments call for a large sum of money upfront, they will begin generating passive streams of income for the rest of your life.

Of course, real estate investing isn’t that simple. There are a few things you should know before you dive into the industry.

If you want to learn more about how to become a real estate investor, you’re in the right place. Keep reading for four essential steps you need to take if becoming an investor is important to you.

1. Identify the Type of Real Estate You Want to Invest In

First, understand that real estate careers and investing opportunities vary greatly. You can buy rundown properties to fix them up and flip them for profit. However, this only provides a one-time payoff.

Alternatively, you can invest in residential or commercial properties to rent out to tenants. This entails assuming the various responsibilities of a landlord. However, owning properties that you rent out will help you generate monthly income indefinitely.

The question then is whether or not you want to invest in residential properties or commercial properties. Check out this book called Military House Hacking for a guide on the different ways to earn passive income.

2. Figure Out Your Budget

The next step in how to become a real estate investor is getting your finances in order. How much money can you afford to spend each month on the property you invest in? Remember, there are more expenses than your monthly loan payment, such as:

Property taxes
Utilities
Common area maintenance fees
Maintenance and repairs
And more

Once you have tenants in your building, you may decide to have them cover some of these costs. However, you must also plan for the periods of time when the property is vacant. During these times, you’ll be paying all these bills on your own.

3. Get Preapproved for Funding

Now that you know how much money you can comfortably afford to spend on real estate investments, you can approach the bank to get preapproved for a loan. This step in how to become a real estate investor is vital. You need to find out how much money you can get approved for, what your interest rate is going to be, and how long your loan term will be.

4. Understand the Local Landlording Laws and Policies

Finally, lean on people who have been working in real estate for a long time to understand more about the industry. We recommend working with an experienced realtor to find the right property.

We also recommend hiring a real estate attorney to help you draft lease agreements. They will also be able to tell you about your legal responsibilities as a landlord. These are the duties you will be required to carry out for your tennats.

Just as importantly, you need to know your rights as a landlord. For example, what is the state policy on evictions, rent raises, rent collection, etc.?

Are You Learning How to Become a Real Estate Investor?

As you can see, becoming an investor takes time and dedication. It isn’t something you should enter into lightly. We hope our guide on how to become a real estate investor helps you get started on the right path.

And if you’re looking for more finance tips or investing advice, you’re in the right place. Read through some of our other articles before you go to find more helpful information.