Don't buy real estate investments that are sub-par. Tempting prices often carry a hidden cost later since no one is interested in buying. Invest what you have to into something of value that real estate investing is more likely to return your investment. You can join real estate groups online, and you can also follow blogs from prominent investors in the market. You can learn a lot this way about how to do business. You could even speak with these individuals one-on-one.

Always do your research, check out locations, and know about the market that you are getting into. Check out a lot of properties, up to 100, in the location you're thinking of, and be sure to take some notes. Include current asking price, how much it will take to make repairs, and how much it can get in rent. Keeping a spreadsheet of all of the pertinent facts can help you make the best choices.

If you're thinking about investing in multiple properties, it is best to have them all within a short distance of each other. Doing this, allows you to save on travel related expenses when taking trips to each of your properties. You will also enhance your expertise in that region.

Don't expect to get rich overnight in real estate investment. On the contrary, it may take up to a decade for your investments to really pay off and many new to the business fail to realize this. With some exceptions, you need to be in the position to hold your properties before seeing any major profits.

After a proper inspection, try factoring in the cost of necessary repairs before buying. The repairs will have to be done before the property is sold. If you plan to rent it out, set aside a maintenance budget, as well. Either way you should allow for some padding when you come up with a plan so you can make money realistically.