How to Begin Investing in Real Estate

Investing in real estate requires more than reading a few books or attending seminars. Here's some tips on how to begin your real estate investment:
Make a plan. Set your goals and plan on how you want to make it happen. As you're still just dipping your feet in the real estate waters, be realistic in setting your expectations. Create a virtual timetable in which you think the stages of your plan should come to fruition. Going into this industry without a plan can destroy your livelihood and reputation. A real estate agent with a besmirched name is nothing.
Work with professionals. It's best to work with a team of professionals when starting your investment career. Look for the best real estate lawyers, mortgage brokers, contractors, agents, accountants and so on. Having the right people around you will let you focus on getting the money deals, and that when the deals are coming through, you're ready with your team to bring it home.
Know the right values. Sometimes a deal looks so good that you simply can't pass it up and just take it right away. Proper research can save you a lot of money. Knowing how much homes are really worth in the constantly changing real estate market is critical to getting the right deals for the right price.
Follow protocol. When you're already meeting a homeowner in person, don't think that you can do anything you want just to get what you want. Local laws have regulations that protect home owners from unscrupulous people. Never try to deceive even those in distress. While they may seem prone to dubious tactics, school yourself to always be honest and professional.
Search the correct title. The title to a property can have all sorts of encumbrances in it. These can make even attractive deals swallow you whole from the financfial burden it will impose on you. Once you know how to find the correct property title and all related information about it, you will develop skills that let you know in the future if a property really is worth going for or not.
Build cash reserves. You don't want to suddenly run into an emergency and find that you're all tied up. You will need to have cash to complete transactions and to cover for any contingencies that come up.
Go slow but steady. There's a lot of first time investors who go into real estate because they were blinded by the hype of making incredible deals in a very short time. Real estate is not a get-rich-quick business. It requires a lot of patience in looking for the right projects and keeping your investments moving. You will make grand slam deals here and there, but it's the consistent completion of regular ones that will let you survive and prosper.
Educate yourself properly so that you don't crash and burn in this industry. Then take the next step only when you're ready.