Stages of Real Estate Investing

All agents have to complete real estate continuing education, but the best don't stop there. Our industry is ever-changing, and the most successful agents are the ones who never stop learning.

That’s why we’ve put together this collection of deep-dive resources just for you. These resources go beyond what's covered in our Real Estate Investing CE courses, giving you deeper insights, fresh perspectives, and actionable strategies to apply in your day-to-day business. So dive into these expert-approved reads and keep pushing your business forward.

1️⃣ Emerging Trends in Real Estate

This annual report by the Urban Land Institute and PwC is a must-read outlook on industry conditions. It’s packed with insights from thousands of real estate experts, highlighting how “higher-for-longer” interest rates and a potential growth recession are influencing investment decisions.

Notably, the report reveals that 40% of the $4 trillion in outstanding commercial mortgages will mature in the next two years, posing both challenges and opportunities.

Reading this report will help you anticipate market shifts (like the divide between Class A and B office space) and spot emerging opportunities before others do.

2️⃣ Housing Market Outlook

For a data-driven perspective on residential trends, Freddie Mac’s economic and housing outlooks are invaluable. The November 2024 release focuses on housing supply and affordability, noting the U.S. housing shortage still sits around 3.7 million units despite recent construction gains.

It explains how insufficient building has driven up home prices and rents, squeezing affordability. The analysis is optimistic that easing mortgage rates and new inventory may provide relief, but it underscores why housing demand continues to outpace supply.

This resource will keep you up-to-date on housing market fundamentals – from price trends to the impact of climate and regulation – straight from a leading government-sponsored enterprise.

3️⃣ NAR – Real Estate Forecast Summit

In this forecast from the National Association of REALTORS®, Chief Economist Lawrence Yun and other experts share predictions for the coming year. NAR forecasted 4.71 million existing-home sales in 2024 (a 13.5% jump from 2023), with national median prices roughly flat. They also identified metros with “pent-up housing demand” (Austin, TX tops the list).

This readable summary gives you a quick pulse on where the residential market is headed, grounded in the latest economic data. It’s an excellent way to validate your own expectations with insights from one of the most reputable real estate organizations.

4️⃣ Real Estate Investing for Beginners: 5 Skills

This guide from Harvard’s Division of Continuing Education distills the fundamental skills and knowledge needed to succeed in real estate investing. It’s welcoming for newcomers while still insightful for seasoned pros. For instance, it reminds us that real estate is valued at over $230 trillion globally, making it the world’s largest asset class.

Yet, it cautions that not all investments are low-risk or “easy money” as TV shows suggest – you need education, patience, and diligence to profit. The article covers different property types (residential, commercial, land) and emphasizes building expertise in areas like deal analysis and networking.

It’s an encouraging, big-picture overview that will inspire you to keep sharpening your skills (with Harvard’s pedigree giving it extra credibility!).

5️⃣ RE Investment Strategies for Beginners

Written by experienced real estate accountants, this resource lays out practical strategies to build wealth through property. It covers classics like “buy and hold” rentals for long-term cash flow and appreciation, as well as creative approaches like house-hacking multi-unit properties to live for free.

The authors note there are multiple strategies and the best one depends on your goals, financial situation, and risk tolerance. From leveraging Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) for hands-off investing to flipping houses for quicker returns, each strategy is explained in plain language.

This is a great read if you want a menu of tactics (with pros and cons) to see which aligns with your investment style.

6️⃣ Commercial RE Investment Strategies

This piece demystifies the jargon around core, value-add, and opportunistic investing in commercial real estate. It explains that the best investors tailor their portfolio using these common strategies. “Core, core-plus, value-add, and opportunistic” approaches each carry different risk/return profiles, and savvy investors blend them to meet their goals.

For example, you’ll learn why stable, income-producing properties (core) might form the foundation of a portfolio, while higher-risk value-add projects offer upside potential.

If you’re looking to broaden your understanding of commercial investment options—from stabilized office buildings to rehab projects—this resource provides a concise, insightful framework used by the pros.

7️⃣ Operational Practices: Future-Proof Business

Adapted from the Institute of Real Estate Management’s 2024 Summit, this article is brimming with tips to optimize your property operations and “future-proof” your business for long-term success.

It stresses the importance of staying ahead of the curve with technology and centralization. For instance, automating routine tasks (like rent collections or late notices) can free up your on-site team to focus on residents. The piece also touches on emerging tech like AI analytics for maintenance, which can help managers make data-driven decisions.

Reading this will give you a glimpse into what forward-thinking property managers are doing—so you can implement these ideas in your own practice and boost efficiency and tenant satisfaction.

Link to Article

8️⃣ Property Management: Legal Perspective

This eye-opening article by a real estate insurance expert highlights how strong management practices can protect you in today’s challenging legal climate. It points out that multifamily owners should establish rigorous safety and security standards to curb liability. For example, recent Florida legislation incentivizes landlords to install high-resolution security cameras, ample lighting, secure locks, and other measures.

Adopting such best practices isn’t just about avoiding lawsuits—it also helps keep insurance costs in check amid rising premiums. This resource underscores that being proactive about things like premises security, regular property inspections, and transparent record-keeping isn’t only ethical—it’s essential risk management.

It’s a slightly different take on “best practices” that will remind you how sound management and legal compliance go hand in hand.

9️⃣ Lease Agreements 101

If you need a refresher on leases, Investopedia’s guide offers a clear breakdown. It explains in simple terms what standard residential leases include (rent amount, duration, security deposit, pet policies, etc.) and how they differ from commercial leases.

Residential leases tend to be boilerplate for all tenants, whereas commercial leases are often negotiated case-by-case and can run for 1–10 years with complex clauses. The article also covers the rights and responsibilities of both landlords and tenants, and what happens if either party breaches the contract. It’s a great resource to ensure you fully understand lease terms and can explain them to clients or tenants.

By knowing the ins and outs of leases, you’ll negotiate and manage them with far more confidence.

🔟 Guide to RE Purchase and Sale Agreements

This user-friendly guide walks you through the purchase contract — that all-important document that seals a real estate deal. It details every element that a solid Purchase and Sale Agreement (PSA) should cover: purchase price, closing date, earnest money, inspection and financing contingencies, title conditions, and more.

The guide points out common areas of confusion, like distinguishing the PSA from the final closing purchase deed (signing a PSA starts the process; the sale isn’t final until closing).

It also emphasizes reviewing all terms carefully and understanding your obligations before you sign. Whether you’re an investor drafting an offer or an agent helping a buyer, this resource will help you navigate contracts with a sharper eye – ensuring no crucial detail slips past you in the closing process.

1️⃣1️⃣ Short Sales vs. Foreclosures

Real estate professionals often encounter distressed properties, and this Investopedia article clearly contrasts short sales and foreclosures. It explains that in a short sale, the homeowner initiates the sale of an over-mortgaged property (with lender approval), whereas in a foreclosure the lender seizes and sells the property due to missed payments.

Short sales can be win-win: the owner avoids a full foreclosure hit and the buyer often gets a home in better condition (with lower rehab costs) than a foreclosed home.

But they do require patience, as lender approval can take time. The article is packed with tips for investors, like why short-sale homes might offer attractive value and how to approach the bank. It’s a concise primer that will deepen your understanding of these scenarios so you can pursue them knowledgeably (or advise clients on them).

1️⃣2️⃣ HUD Homes (REO Properties)

This official HUD page is a go-to reference for anyone interested in HUD-owned homes (properties that went into FHA foreclosure). It defines what a HUD home is – “a 1-to-4 unit residential property acquired by HUD after foreclosure on an FHA-insured mortgage” – and describes how HUD sells these REO properties to the public via the HUD Home Store website.

The resource highlights that buying a HUD home can be an opportunity to purchase at a steep discount, since HUD’s goal is to recoup losses quickly.

It also links to guides on bidding, HUD’s special programs, and how to get notified of listings. If you’re considering foreclosures or REOs in your investment strategy, this site will give you the procedural know-how straight from the source. It’s also useful for learning the rules that make HUD sales a bit different (like required buyer-agent registrations and strict contract timelines).

1️⃣3️⃣ Top Ten Tax Deductions for Landlords

Written by a tax attorney, this Nolo article is a goldmine for understanding how to maximize your rental investment’s profitability through tax savings. It cheerfully asks, “Are you taking advantage of all the tax breaks for landlords?” and then walks through the big ones: interest on mortgage and loans, depreciation, repairs, property taxes, insurance, and even the cost of professional services.

For example, it explains how depreciation lets you write off a portion of a property’s value each year (27.5 years for residential) even if the property is gaining value. It also covers often-missed deductions like travel for property management and legal/accounting fees.

The tone is conversational and it simplifies IRS rules into plain English. After reading this, you’ll likely find at least one or two tax write-offs you hadn’t been fully leveraging – essentially putting money back in your pocket.

Top Ten Tax Deductions for Landlords

If you’re a landlord, you’ll want to learn about the potential tax write-offs for expenses like interest, repairs, and travel.

NoloStephen Fishman, J.D. · USC Gould School of Law

1️⃣4️⃣ How to Limit Taxes - Rental Property

When it comes time to sell an investment property, taxes can take a big bite out of your profits. This resource delves into strategies to minimize capital gains taxes, highlighting the famous 1031 like-kind exchange. It notes that a 1031 exchange allows you to defer capital gains by reinvesting sale proceeds into a similar property, essentially “trading” properties to keep the tax man at bay.

It also mentions strategies like holding properties for more than one year to qualify for lower long-term capital gains rates, and even using legal entities to manage taxation. The article provides concrete examples (including how depreciation recapture works) so you can see the math in action. This is a must-read to plan your exit strategies smartly.

By understanding these concepts, you can advise clients — or make your own moves — to sell properties while keeping much more of your hard-earned gains.

1️⃣5️⃣ Closing on a New Home

This official CFPB step-by-step guide is perfect for demystifying the closing process, especially for home purchases. It walks through everything that happens after your offer is accepted and before the deal is done. Key takeaways include: stay responsive to lender requests for documents, get a professional home inspection, secure homeowner’s insurance, shop for title insurance, and be vigilant about wire fraud scams that can occur during closing.

It provides checklists of documents to review (like the Closing Disclosure) and even suggests questions to ask your closing agent if anything isn’t clear. By following this resource, you’ll come to the closing table fully prepared. It ensures you won’t be caught off-guard by any last-minute surprises, and it reinforces best practices (like reviewing every document and doing a final walk-through). In short, it helps you close with confidence and peace of mind.

1️⃣6️⃣ Legal Due Diligence in Commercial RE

When dealing with commercial properties or any large real estate deal, thorough due diligence is critical. This comprehensive guide, written by a real estate attorney, outlines how to conduct a careful investigation of a property’s history, leases, and legal status before closing.

It explains due diligence in practical terms: verifying the seller’s authority, checking for any hidden problems or liabilities (like unresolved liens, zoning issues, or environmental concerns) that could affect the property’s value. The article emphasizes that performing due diligence is both a legal obligation and a smart financial move – it protects you from unwelcome surprises after purchase. For real estate professionals, this is a great reminder of all the items to tick off your checklist (title search, survey, tenant estoppel statements, etc.).

It will help you create your own due diligence checklist to ensure every stone is unturned before you commit your money or your client’s money to a deal.

Link to Article

1️⃣7️⃣ Real Estate Predictions

Want a glimpse into the future? Deloitte’s global outlook highlights the cutting-edge trends reshaping real estate – from generative AI and virtual reality to the rise of sustainable “smart” buildings.

It’s an inspiring read that suggests how technologies like artificial intelligence could streamline property management and how immersive tech (think virtual tours and the metaverse) might transform marketing and tenant experiences. The report also ties these innovations to actionable advice, urging firms to upgrade outdated systems and embrace digital transformation to stay competitive.

In short, it’s a roadmap for future-proofing your business. This resource will get you thinking about how to leverage tech trends in your own operations, whether it’s using data analytics to find investment deals or adopting software that makes your property management more efficient. It’s equal parts exciting and practical for anyone eager to ride the wave of real estate innovation.

1️⃣8️⃣ Real Estate Code of Ethics

Professional ethics are the backbone of a trustworthy real estate practice. This article breaks down the National Association of REALTORS® Code of Ethics into plain language, making it clear and digestible. It summarizes the core duties agents owe to clients, the public, and each other – from putting clients’ interests first and avoiding misrepresentation, to not discriminating against protected classes (Article 10) and always cooperating with regulatory investigations (Article 14).

The piece highlights fundamental principles like honesty, integrity, maintaining client confidentiality, and avoiding conflicts of interest. Why does this matter to you? As the article notes (citing a PwC trend study), a strong focus on ethics and trust can directly improve your business outcomes and relationships in real estate.

In other words, ethical practices aren’t just about following rules – they’re a savvy long-term strategy for success. This resource is a great refresher that will remind you how adhering to high ethical standards builds your reputation, client loyalty, and industry credibility.

1️⃣9️⃣ Sustainable, Eco-Friendly Practices

Green real estate is no longer a niche—it’s now both an ethical and profitable approach to business. This engaging article, written by a real estate CPA firm, illustrates how sustainability has become a “mainstream imperative” in real estate, offering lower operating costs, higher property values, and even tax incentives for owners.

It covers practical eco-friendly practices like energy-efficient building materials, renewable energy systems, and water conservation techniques. Importantly, it frames going green as a win-win: reducing a building’s carbon footprint isn’t just good for the planet, it’s described as “a savvy business move” that benefits your bottom line too.

By reading this, you’ll learn how developments with green certifications or retrofitting properties for efficiency can attract tenants and buyers willing to pay a premium. It’s a persuasive reminder that sustainable practices in property management and development can set you apart as a forward-thinking, responsible professional — all while potentially boosting your returns.