Nor is this an isolated example. I get a handful of these emails each week, from countries like England, Australia, Dubai, Arab Emirates, Ireland, and South Africa. There are lots of reasons, but the main one is, believe it or now, our strong economy.

That’s right… our economy.

You see, no matter how bleak it might look and fgeel right now, it’s still the US ECONOMY, and it still rocks compared to the rest of the world. this is still the place the rest of the world wants to be.

Don’t forget it.

What exactly am I takling about? I’m talking about the information that’s available at no cost all across the internet, including right here on this site. By diligently reading a little each day, you can slowly but surely learn investing tactics and techniques only a few pros use, and you can profit greatly by using the same tactics yourself.

No matter what kind of investing you’re interested in – rehabbing, birddogging, wholesaling, landlording, apartment houses, commercial property, section 8, subject to, or what have you, the internet has a wealth of information and help available, much of it free or at little cost.

Read, study, and digest what interests you, then put your new education in real estate investing to work for you by doing the one thing so many would be investors fail to do… namely, taking action.

Get up and do something!

It isn’t hard… really it isn’t. Real estate investing isn’t like other skills you may want to get an education for, like engineering or cooking. There isn’t a school, academy, or institute you can attend to learn how to invest in residential real estate. There is no formal education in real estate investing, at least not that I’m aware of.

But there is a great and simple way to learn, one that’s been used for decades, even centuries. It’s been used by investors to learn how to do short sales, buy and hold, rehabbing, wholesaling, and birddogging, to name a few. It’s a method of getting an education in real estate investing that’s probably being used in your town right now, by at least a few new investors, and it’s a method you can use.

Best of all, it won’t cost you a dime, other than your time. What is this amazing educational in real estate investing, and how can you get it? Just ask for it!

“But who do I ask?” You might be wondering. Easy… ask another investor, preferably more than one. You see, the best education you can get will come from investors who are already successful doing what you want to do, in the same market you want to invest in.

They know the ins and outs. They know the neighborhoods. They know the local professionals – like property managers, attorneys, and realtors – who can be trusted. And they know how to take deals down the right way, the profitable way.

They will be willing to teach you, too, if you offer them something in return. You see, almost all residential real estate investors need help, whether it’s locating property to buy, putting up “we buy houses” signs, or sending out postcards. Pick out a few established investors, and offer to help them, for free, with any or all of these tasks, in exchange for them letting you follow them on their deals and learn from them. Sooner or later one will say, “OK.”

That’s all you need, just one. Make sure you can get along with him or her, and that they really have the experience you’re looking for. Once you’ve got a person like that, latch on and learn everything you can from them, everything they are willing to teach you. It will be the best education in real estate investing you could possible get!

Where will you find investors like this, investors you can learn from? The best place is at REIA group meetings Reia stands for Real Estate Investor’s Association, and there’s most likely one meeting in or near your city. If not, maybe there’s some other group of investors. Ask around. Ask Realtors, attorneys, property managers… in short, ask anybody who you think might know something about real estate investing in your town. Once you’ve found some meeting or group of investors, visit a meeting and join the group. That’s all there is to it!

Comment here and let me know how it goes.

Take some time and think carefully about your skill set and temperament. This will help you decide what type of real estate investing you will be most likely to succeed at. Ask yourself some hard questions…

Are you easily bored?

Are you detail oriented?

Are you mechanically inclined?

Do you work best alone or with a partner?

What experience have you had?

Do you deal well with people and their problems?

These are just a few of the many questions you should ask yourself when considering what kind of real estate investing suits you. In future installments, we’ll go into a little more detail, and help you uncover opportunities by looking at your answers to the questions above.

Meanwhile, read about Investment Properties For Beginners.

“Where would you go to get such a thing?” I asked.

He wasn’t sure, but said that there “Must be someplace that offers it.”

I don’t think so, at least not the kind of real estate investing most people are looking to get an education in. Oh, there may be schools that offer education in real estate investing at the commercial level, like high-rises and big ticket commercial property, such as the kind Donald Trump might invest in.

But when it comes to the kind of education in real estate investing most people are likely to be interested in – investing in single family houses, duplexes, and small apartment buildings – there really aren’t any schools I’m aware of that offer that.

Instead, that kind of education is best obtained right where you are now – the internet – as well as at the local level, in real estate investing clubs, and from local professionals like Realtors and attorneys who are familiar with your local market.

One other place you may not think to look? Mortgage lenders and Capital companies like City Capital Corp (A Socially Responsible Real Estate Investment Firm). Those kinds of professionals can open your eyes to the ins and outs of the real estate investment game, and provide you a valuable, and free, education in real estate investing.

In short, get to know as many qualified professionals as you can. Start now to build your network of people in positions to help you as you progress toward your investing goals. Every time you add a property to your portfolio, strive to also add a partner to your network.

That’s how you grow as an investor.