Who Is The Best Real Estate Mentor? Top 5 Picks for Investors
So, you want to get started investing in real estate. You’ve read a few books, maybe even some written by a real estate mentor on this list, but you still don’t know exactly what to do.
Fear no more, my friend! I am here to help you take the next step in your real estate career: finding a mentor.
I’ve been in the real estate investing sphere for a long time. And I’ve seen many coaches, gurus, and real estate prophets come and go. But I’ve also seen who the real kahunas are, the men and women who actually “do the damn thing” day in and day out.
Most don’t own private jets or post to Instagram every five minutes; they’re humble, hard-working people! The folks on this list are like that, and they are too busy grinding out deals or, alternatively, sipping cocktails in Tulum to waste time flexing on social media.
Here’s my list of the best real estate mentors in the business today.
Who are the Best Real Estate Mentors?
Firstly, this is a numerical list, listing each mentor from 1 to 5. However, take the numbers with a grain of salt — all of these investors are next-level and can help guide you toward success.
I should also mention that each of these real estate investing mentors has a unique approach. And a mentorship program that suits me may not suit you the same way.
1. Jimmy Vreeland with Cashflow Tactics
Jimmy Vreeland is one part of the real estate mentor group “Cashflow Tactics” alongside co-founders Ryan D. Lee and Bradley Gibb.
These guys are the quintessential POWER TRIO. They’ve become successful real estate investors by strategically combining their strengths and doubling down on networking.
Considering Jimmy’s background as an ex-Army Ranger, it’s no wonder he excels at building a strong network of experienced real estate investors.
In fact, I think that the “relationship” aspect Jimmy brings to the industry makes Cashflow Tactics’ real estate mentorship uniquely valuable. What they teach goes beyond simple business tips and advice; they help investors build a business support group.
And that means you’ll learn a lot from Jimmy and his students (many of which are successful investors in their own right). The networking events Cashflow Tactics hosts, both in-person and online, are a great opportunity to teach and be taught.
Tip: As you look at finding a mentor, look at their network. Do they have the respect and support of their peers? The right mentor can help their students build a strong support network, not just a base skill set.
All-in-all, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a real estate mentor as good as Jimmy Vreeland, and with Cashflow Tactics, you get three mentors for the price of one!
Jimmy is one of the few wholesaling real estate mentors that operates a wholesaling business year-round. A.K.A., he walks the walk.
2. Jake and Gino with Wheelbarrow Profits Academy
Jake Stenziano and Gino Barbero have become a staple in the real estate investment educational space, with a decade of active real estate mentoring under their belt.
Though successful real estate investors themselves, their student results are what stand out. To date, Jake and Gino’s students have acquired nearly $2 Billion worth of multifamily properties, well over 30,000 units!
These guys are not hobbyists; they’re empire builders. You’re better off finding a different mentor if you’re interested in slowly acquiring a single-family rental property here and there.
Jake and Gino will impress you with their real estate investing mentor style because — like any true mentor — they’re involved in your business. They’re even known to help students work business deals in real-time, taking hands-on mentoring to the next level.
Jake and Gino’s mentorship program is comprehensive. There are courses, books, coaching, live events, work groups, think tanks – you name it. This is a one-stop shop for multi-family real estate investor education.
Mentorship isn’t a guarantee. You must interview and get accepted to join Jake and Gino’s programs. But in place of that, they have some great educational programs you can pick up on their website.
3. BiggerPockets
Alright, I know what you’re thinking: “BiggerPockets? That’s not a mentor!”
You’d be correct, but I’d argue that BiggerPockets’ forums, podcasts, books, and programs contain more real estate investing knowledge than any real estate coach or mentorship program.
That said, I want to highlight the Bootcamps. These 2-3 day events are headed by some of the best and brightest real estate investors in the game. Folks like Matt Faircloth, Avery Carl, and Brandon Turner are legitimate rockstars!
Brandon Turner isn’t as active in the BP community since he stopped hosting the podcast, but you can still get his books. They rank in my all-time top real estate investing books.
Each Bootcamp covers a different stage of the investing journey, from your first house-hacking deal all the way to acquiring multi-unit properties, like apartment buildings.
If you just want to dip your toe in, I’d pick the Rookie Bootcamp. But, if you’re committed to becoming a legit, pedal-to-the-metal investor… grab a Pro membership. It’s cheaper than buying each training and gets you access to everything.
Great community, great coaches, and great content. You can’t go wrong with BiggerPockets.
I like to scan the BP forums for marketing tactics and new software to play with, like CRMs, rent collection apps, skip-tracing tools, etc. It’s a gold mine for anything real estate-related, and people are always sharing new things.
4. Michael Blank
Michael Blank’s mentorship style is “go big or go home” personified.
Most investors want to scoop up multiple properties, or “doors,” per year, but the traditional slow grind of single-family investing makes scaling quickly tricky.
People don’t even know there is a cap on how many mortgages banks will let an individual take up.
Michael skips the traditional process and goes straight for multi-unit apartment buildings, helping his students scoop up 10, 20, or 30 doors in a single deal. If that sounds too fast, he also teaches you how to identify and mitigate the risk of scaling a real estate business.
Enroll in Michael’s Investor Incubator program for the premium mentorship route, or check out his website. It’s a good place to start for beginners, and Michael shares his knowledge there for free.
You’ll also find a portal for DMM (Deal Maker Mastermind), one of the largest, most well-known think tanks for real estate investors.
5. Phil Pustejovsky with Freedom Mentor
Phil Pustejovsky is one of the game’s longest-running and most experienced real estate mentors.
He’s a true professional with many student success stories under his belt. As a result, some of those students later became coaches for his brand, Freedom Mentor.
The Freedom Mentor apprenticeship focuses on wholesaling, flipping, and creative finance. These are bedrock skills needed to become a local real estate investor.
Phil’s approach to mentoring is very straightforward and professional (don’t let the sandals fool you), and he gives you many tools to work with. You’ll get a broad education to diversify your business from the get-go.
My one gripe with Phil Pustejovsky is his content; it looks dated. He’s got an effective system, but the website and deliverables need a makeover. It’s a pet peeve of mine and purely superficial, but take it with a grain of salt; most Freedom Mentor reviews are glowing.
What Is A Real Estate Mentor?
A real estate mentor is anyone willing to teach what they know about the real estate industry to another, a mentee.
Not all mentors are alike, though, so there isn’t a single standard to judge them against. And there are many ways to make money with real estate, so education changes and strategies are fluid.
As a result, there can be a lot of confusion about where to find a good mentor/education. Unfortunately, where there is confusion + money, there will be fakes and schemers.
Some grifters copy lessons from legitimate investors and repackage them. They’ll slightly alter the original content, repackage it, and sell it for $39.99 online. By the time they’re outed, they’ve already made off with a few hundred thousand dollars and could care less. You’ve probably seen the type before, and sadly they aren’t going anywhere.
However, a legitimate mentor can help you become a successful real estate investor in twelve months or less. It’s not rocket science, and they’ve got the systems to prove it. These are men and women operating a living, breathing real estate business. They’ve made a career in the real estate industry and practice what they preach.
Are there “Free” Real Estate Mentors?
There is an investment of time and money if you want someone to teach you how to invest in real estate. You or your mentor will pay one way or the other, and with mentorship, you usually pay.
That said, you can learn a lot for free online. There are some great communities (BiggerPockets) and informational blogs like mine!
Final Thoughts
Good mentorship is usually equal parts expensive and extensive. This means it’ll be a sizeable investment but offer a “full-stack” educational experience.
For the price of admission, you’ll typically get access to the mentor(s) directly, sometimes weekly or monthly. And you’ll get on-demand coursework, live and digital events, a mastermind community, and maybe live coaching.
Each program on this list checks off all the boxes I look for; however, you should always do your due diligence. We all learn differently, have different financial situations, etc. Take your time, read some testimonials, and pick a real estate mentor (or program) that “clicks” with you.
Good luck!
