The 7 Best Real Estate Investing Books for 2023

The best real estate investing books are the ones you’ll actually read! But in lieu of that, the books I recommend in this article are a great place to start.

There’s something here for everyone, whether you’re a flipper, wholesaler, first-time buyer, or a pro looking to brush up on tactics. And these aren’t “mindset” books either; they each focus on specific real-world tactics.

Also, don’t expect to find the works of legendary investors like Robert Kiyosaki (Rich Dad, Poor Dad) or Gary Keller (The Millionaire Real Estate Investor) because my picks are much more niche. And these books are short, too, not because I think you’re dumb but because an active investor doesn’t have time for a long-winded, fanciful read.

There’s money to be made, so let’s get started!

What are the Best Real Estate Investing Books?

The following books are my personal top picks for both beginners and experienced investors and cover topics I think any savvy real estate investor will want to learn more about.

Key topics you’ll find in these books:

• Creative Financing
• Wholesaling
• Fix n’ Flips
• Tax Strategies
• Long-term rentals or “buy and hold” investing
• Short-term rental property investing

1. “The Book on Investing In Real Estate with No (and Low) Money Down” by Brandon Turner

Brandon Turner is a self-made millionaire real estate investor, author, and (former) Bigger Pockets Podcast host.

While he’s written some of the best real estate investing books, this one stands out because it addresses one of the big – if not biggest – obstacles new investors face: financing.

Brandon does a fantastic job walking the reader through how to buy properties using creative financing in this book. He also shares real-life examples of how he leveraged creative financing to build his real estate empire using other people’s money to close deals.

Topics covered in this book:

• Creative real estate investing
• How to build partnerships
• Home equity loans/ HELOCs
• Hard money strategies
• Private funding (Other People’s Money)
• Lease options
• Seller financing
• Wholesaling
• Syndication

My thoughts:

I put this book first on this list because most beginner real estate investors want to learn how to finance a deal before worrying about the following steps, like property management, tax strategies, etc.

If you’ve ever run into a wall when trying to finance a deal, this book will show you some out-of-the-box ways to get your hands on a property you once thought was out of reach.

This book reinforces my belief that anyone can become a real estate investor, regardless of background or available funds!

2. “ABCs of Real Estate Investing” by Ken McElroy

Ken McElroy is a real estate investor, author, and Youtuber who’s been involved in real estate investing for decades. He’s a frequent contributor to the “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” content series and co-owner of his own real estate investment company.

“ABCs of Real Estate Investing” is one of the cornerstone real estate investing books that anyone entering the industry should pick up and read.

In the book, Ken covers the breadth of what’s needed to become a bonified real estate investor.

Real estate investing is a broad topic, but this book gives a high-level view and actionable, everyday advice for those interested in the different facets of the real estate industry.

Topics covered in this book: (taken from the book itself)

• Achieve wealth and cash flow through real estate
• Find property with real potential
• Show you how to unlock the myths that are holding you back
• Negotiating the deal based on the numbers
• Evaluate property and purchase price
• Increase your income through proven property management tools

My thoughts:

“The ABCs of Real Estate Investing” was the first real estate investing book I bought, and there are sections I still refer to whenever I need to refresh my view on what I’m doing now with my investing strategy.

I like to think of this book as my “Real Estate Investing 101” textbook.

If you’d like to see what Ken is up to nowadays, I recommend you check out his Youtube channel.

3. “The Multifamily Millionaire, Volume 1” by Brandon Turner & Brian Murray

This is another excellent book from Brandon Turner and his co-author and business partner, Brian Murray. Both men have a repertoire of real estate investing knowledge, are veterans in the industry, and have authored multiple books that benefit real estate investors.

“The Multifamily Millionaire VOL. 1,” the first book in the series, covers the steps needed to achieve financial freedom through rental property investments.

Inside you’ll find a step-by-step guide for building wealth with buy & hold real estate investing, one of the most tried and true paths toward becoming a millionaire real estate investor.

Topics covered in this book:

• How to analyze multifamily properties
• The seven types of multifamily properties and which are best to buy & hold
• Creative financing strategies for multifamily properties
• How to estimate repairs and upkeep costs
• The Multifamily Millionaire method
• How to manage a growing portfolio

My thoughts:

Buying and holding multifamily properties is my – absolute, hands-down, no-contest – favorite way to build passive income.

Owning a multifamily real estate portfolio is great for more than just cash flow, and this book outlines all of the benefits this type of investment can have for your financial wealth.

10/10 Must-read!

4. “The Hands-Off Investor” by Brian Burke

Brian Burke is an investor, author, and speaker who has acquired over $500 million in real estate throughout his career while finding time to build and scale his private equity firm, Praxis Capital.

His book, “The Hands-Off Investor,” is one of – if not the best – books teaching investors how to navigate real estate syndication.

Traditional investing commitments are a significant barrier for many aspiring real estate investors. Learning how to flip houses, wholesale, or buy & hold takes considerable time that many professionals with demanding careers don’t have time for.

Investors who need a more passive real estate investment strategy will find syndication extremely attractive. Brian’s book teaches precisely how to get started, what to watch out for, and how to scale it to financial freedom.

Topics covered in this book: (taken from the book itself)

• Understand income, cash flow projections, and investor waterfalls
• How to find syndication investment sponsors and evaluate them
• Common mistakes and red flags to avoid
• How debt options affect risk and return
• Fees and profit splits
• Tax implications of syndication investments

My thoughts:

In my experience, most of the work in syndication is done on the front end, more so than with other types of real estate investment, where you can learn a lot during the process.

Investing in your real estate education is paramount here, so don’t be surprised if you need to read this book several times to understand some of the more complex topics.

However, once you’ve learned how to invest in syndication deals, you’ll find it is one of the best passive income sources in real estate.

5. “The Real Estate Wholesaling Bible” by Than Merrill

Than Merrill is a real estate investor, author, and educator, he owns and operates several real estate businesses, the newest being Equity Street Capital which focuses on large commercial real estate investments.

“The Real Estate Wholesaling Bible” is his magnum opus and an educational staple for many entering the real estate investing world, especially those aiming to wholesale properties.

Wholesaling has seen a massive boost in popularity in the last few years and is arguably the easiest way to invest in “long-distance real estate.” You can often buy and sell a property without being physically present at any deal stage AND without using any of your own money.

Than’s book gives the reader a play-by-play system for their first – or hundredth – wholesale deal. Also, he manages to break down potentially complex topics into actionable, “bite-size” lessons.

Topics covered in this book:

• How to find and analyze wholesale deals
• How to finance wholesale deals
• How to find buyers for your properties
• How to systematize your wholesaling business
• How to wholesale in a down real estate market

My thoughts:

While I’ve only done a few wholesale deals myself, I’ve worked with clients who almost exclusively operate as wholesalers, and – more often than not – they use a system similar to the one Than shares in his book.

To that point, I’d say that “The Real Estate Wholesaling Bible” is less a book and more an instruction manual on exactly what can be done to wholesale effectively.

6. “Short-term Rental, Long-term Wealth” by Avery Carl

Avery Carl is an author, real estate agent, and CEO of the Short Term Shop. This real estate firm connects investors with short-term rental properties in vacation markets across the US.

Avery’s book, “Short-term Rental, Long-term Wealth,” is laser-focused on the steadily-growing segment of real estate investing known as short-term rentals.

Many of the lessons in this book hinge on using technology effectively and leveraging third-party booking companies like Airbnb and Vrbo to lease your properties.

Whether you have a basement you can rent or already own a dozen condos near the beach, Avery’s strategies can help you analyze, acquire, and automate a short-term rental portfolio.

Topics covered in this book:

• Long-term rentals vs. short-term rentals
• How to find the best areas to buy
• Managing your portfolio from your smartphone
• Automate and delegate your business using rent collection software
• Using cash flow to scale

My thoughts:

“Short-term Rental, Long-term Wealth” is the best book that focuses on investing in short-term rental properties.

This book pushes you to think differently about real estate investing and capitalize on the new technology that’s popped up around it. Airbnb, VRBO — these sites are making millionaires every day.

For something as mainstream as rental property investing, it’s exciting to see that there are new, innovative ways to thrive in this industry.

7. “How To Buy Mobile Homes” by Adrian Ansley Smude

My wild-card pick for this list is written by the investor, author, and speaker Adrian Ansley Smude.

Adrian has built a thriving real estate business on the back of one of real estate’s hidden niches: mobile homes (or manufactured homes, depending on who you ask).

In his book, he shares why he’s chosen to focus on mobile homes, how they compare to traditional rental homes, and how you can use them to build wealth.

Topics covered in this book:

• Common myths about mobile homes
• Adrian’s favorite lead sources for mobile home deals
• The secret to financing mobile homes
• Common mistakes to avoid
• How to analyze a mobile home
• How to extend the life of your mobile home portfolio
• Tips to increase cash flow

My thoughts:

I have bought, renovated, and sold mobile homes in the dozens –– even going so far as flipping an entire mobile home park of 100+ units.

Smude’s book caught my eye because many real estate investors overlook mobile homes in favor of site-built homes. This oversight comes from the stigma surrounding “manufactured” homes — they’re seen as a cheap, low-tier investment.

However, Smude does a good job of dispelling the common myths. And if you understand the current building “landscape,” you’ll know how solid manufactured homes are.

“The riches are in the niches,” so I encourage you to read How To Buy Mobile Homes and see if it doesn’t open your eyes to what’s possible when you get creative with real estate investments.

Honorable Mentions

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Wrap Up

That’s my curated list of the absolute best real estate investing books.

I hope you’ve got a few rainy days or long weekends ahead of you because these titles will keep you busy.

That said, I don’t recommend you read them all back-to-back — that’s a recipe for information overload.

I find it’s best to treat these books like instruction manuals: find the information you need, act on it, then come back later for the next step.

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