Top 25 Best Real Estate and Rental Property Books

real estate investing books

Investing in real estate can provide you with passive income and be extremely satisfying. But it requires a lot of expertise in plenty of different fields.

Imagine you buy a property and it doesn’t provide you sufficient profit. Making such mistakes can waste both your money and your time. When it comes to owning rental property, the stakes are high.

If you want to avoid such mistakes and become an expert in real estate investing before you begin, there are endless books available online that can help you learn.

But with so many books on the market, how can you know which to choose? The growth of self-publishing on websites like Amazon means nearly anyone can publish a book these days, and not all authors are reliable.

That's why we've put together a list of the best property investment books.

These books provide a wealth of experience and viewpoints, and are some of the best selling real estate books available. So, let’s dive right in!

Rich Dad Poor Dad

Pros Teaches a wealth-orientated mindset. Shows how to work smarter instead of harder.
Cons No step-by-step guide.
What We Think 9 / 10

Rich Dad Poor Dad is a great real estate investing book for beginners. This book touches on the aspects of how you can make attract money and success by investing in real estate properties.

Rich Dad Poor Dad teaches you that you should buy assets first and let the assets provide you with the luxuries associated with success.

The Art of the Deal

Pros Provides a step-by-step method. Shows the recipe for being successful as a real estate investor.
Cons Long and time-consuming.
What We Think 9 / 10

Donald J. Trump may be a controversial figure, but his book The Art of The Deal is an amazing teacher for real estate investors.

It shows readers to focus on the bigger picture while investing in real estate property.

The book tells readers to invest in real estate and see it build a financially secure future.

The Book on Rental Property Investing—Biggerpockets Books

Pros Has a step-by-step guide. Good for both experienced and new investors.
Cons Has a lot of advertising for the author's personal blog.
What We Think 9 / 10

The Book on Rental Property Investing is a book by Brandon Turner that is specially written for real estate investors.

The reason why it is one of the best books for real estate investing is that the author himself is a real estate entrepreneur who has had success in his field. There's nobody better to learn from than those who've succeeded.

First, this book teaches you the basics for new investors. Then it goes in depth about real estate investing.

The Millionaire Real Estate Investor

Pros Easy to read. Plenty of expert opinions.
Cons Contains more motivation than practical advice.
What We Think 9 / 10

The Millionaire Real Estate Investor provides you with advice from 100 millionaire real estate investors.

This advice is further explained and expanded upon by the author. The author, Gary Keller, will help to change your thinking by showing you how to have a millionaire mindset.

For real estate investors, it is a splendid read because it provides a guide from professionals. It provides a lot of ideas for new investors and experienced investors alike.

The ABCs of Real Estate Investing

Pros Contains proven examples to get an income through real estate investing. Along with teaching, it also motivates you so you don’t hold back.
Cons Mainly geared towards large scale investing.
What We Think 8 / 10

If you are a beginner real estate investor then this book may be the best read for you. It'll provide you with the basics of real estate investing.

It teaches you which properties are potential income providers and what prices are best for you. This book can serve as a myth buster for people who lack motivation or confidence.

The Book on Investing in Real Estate with No (and Low) Money Down

Pros Easy to understand. A great book for beginners.
Cons Lots of advertising for the author's real estate blog.
What We Think 8 / 10

As the title suggests, this book gives you advice about how you can make money through real estate investing without having a lot of money up front.

For many people, gathering the money for real estate investing is the first problem. If you are one of these people, this book may be the best book for real estate investing.

Moreover, the book provides a thorough guide for investing in real estate for novice investors.

The Book on Estimating Rehab Costs

Pros Touches on the aspects that even you don’t know need attention. Provides a thorough guide for all steps.
Cons More focused on rehabbing than investing.
What We Think 9 / 10

This book not only provides a beginner’s guide, but also shows how you can end up making an income through real estate investing. It teaches you everything you need to know about real estate investing, from beginning to end.

If you want to learn about everything about budgets, tips for investings, the establishment of propertys, maintenances, and more, then this book is for you.

The Book on Flipping Houses

Pros A thorough guide for house flippers. Best for both beginner flippers with one home or for establishing a large scale flipping business.
Cons Mainly geared towards house flippers.
What We Think 9 / 10

The Book on Flipping Houses is great for people who want to buy, repair, and sell properties. It teaches you how you can buy the best properties and rehab them in the most effective possible way.

The book also tells you ways you can impress potential clients through your property after rehabbing it.

The Book on Managing Rental Properties

Pros Teaches you the importance and ways of maintaining the property. Can help you develop a millionaire's mindset.
Cons More fun and motivational than informative.
What We Think 9 / 10

As the name states, this book teaches you how you can maintain rental properties after buying them.

It also schools readers on how they can buy the best properties and provides dos and don'ts of investing in rental properties.

It's a complete guide from end to start, which means it is great for novice rental property managers alike.

Build a Rental Property Empire

Pros Easy to read and understand. Contains valuable and practical information.
Cons The author talks about his car a lot which is irrelevant.
What We Think 7.5 / 10

Build a Rental Property Empire teaches you how you can buy, build, and get profits from real estate investing. It is great for both beginners as well as professional real estate investors.

It teaches you the little things that not everyone knows to pay attention to. This book is not like other books and it contains unique tips for real estate investing in particular.

The Real Estate Wholesaling Bible

Pros Contains useful information for intermediates. Easy and interesting to read.
Cons Specific to wholesalers.
What We Think 8 / 10

The Real Estate Wholesaling Bible is a great read for wholesalers. It teaches you an easier way of making an income through real estate with fewer risks.

The book instructs you on how you can make a profitable business and how the wholesaling of real estate works.

If you are looking for the best books on wholesaling real estate, this book will be one of your best bets.

FLIP

Pros Contains unique information. Provides money-saving and money-making tips.
Cons Mostly geared towards house flippers.
What We Think 8 / 10

No matter if you are a beginner or a pro at real estate investing, this book is packed with useful information.

It teaches you how to choose houses for flipping and flip them for the most profit possible.

Building Wealth One House at a Time

Pros Teaches the difference between buy-rent and flipping. Straight-forward information.
Cons Tips could be elaborated upon further.
What We Think 8 / 10

The author of this book is a real estate pro. That’s why this book contains a lot of practical information about real estate business making.

Through this book, you can learn about buying the best houses as well as renting them most effectively.

How We Bought a 24-Unit Apartment Complex for (almost) No Money Down!

Pros A quick read. Straight-forward and to-the-point.
Cons Only covers very specific aspects of real estate investing.
What We Think 7 / 10

This is a quick book for people that want to learn everything in under one hour. It is a to-the-point book without any fluff, and it lives up to its title.

For real estate investors, it is useful to find out a "how to buy houses with no money down" book because it shows how you can buy rental property without much money from your pocket.

Irrational Exuberance

Pros Unique aspects of building a business. Useful information in every paragraph.
Cons The book's small font can be hard to read.
What We Think 7.5 / 10

Irrational Exuberance is a book that not only covers the practical aspects of building an empire through investing but also covers the psychological aspects.

Learning how things happen in the real estate investing market is essential for both beginners and pros. This book teaches you all about it.

While most of the other books on this list are written for a less academic audience, this is one of the best real estate textbooks available.

Investing in Duplexes, Triplexes, and Quads

Pros Contains unique information. Covers a lot of aspects of real estate investing.
Cons A fair amount of exaggeration.
What We Think 8 / 10

The book teaches you how you can make a profitable business through real estate without spending much of your money.

It teaches you how to avoid the dangerous risks associated with real estate investing.

The Book on Negotiating Real Estate

Pros Contains real world examples. Real advice from real investors.
Cons Contains many advertisements for the author's videos.
What We Think 8.5 / 10

In this book, you get tips from some real estate experts. This book provides real-world advice and shows you how to negotiate in buying and selling real estate property.

Not only does it teach you the basics of buying and selling, but it also illustrates how to deal with every kind of client.

Manny Khoshbin's Contrarian Playbook

Pros Should keep you motivated and interesting. Teaches unique information about real estate investing.
Cons Dry in certain areas.
What We Think 8.5 / 10

This book is one of the best real estate investing books because it teaches you how to stay consistent. The author shows how in some real estate markets, it can be important sell properties without holding them too long.

The Contrarian Playbook also teaches you to never stop working, which is a great motivation for real estate investors.

Your First 365 Days in Real Estate

Pros Great for both beginners and professionals. The storytelling aspect makes it a fun read.
Cons Could be more comprehensive in its information.
What We Think 8 / 10

Your First 365 Days in Real Estate is an awesome book for beginner investors. The first year as an investor can be hard and confusing.

But by reading this book, your first 365 days will become easier and more manageable. It teaches you strategies designed around helping you make a profit and buy the right properties.

HOLD

Pros Step-by-step guide. Covers all the important real estate investing aspects.
Cons Centred around holding and not flipping.
What We Think 8 / 10

HOLD is a book for people who want to hang onto their properties and rent them out.

Holding your properties long-term can be a great way to make an income, but it often requires a lot of hard work.

This buy and hold book shows you why it can be beneficial for you to hold on to you properties and find the best tenants available.

Rich Woman

Pros Interesting storytelling. Inspiring for investors.
Cons Not applicable to men.
What We Think 8 / 10

If you are a woman who wants expert tips on real estate investing, then this book is the best for you. It contains a lot of information and real-life experience of female real estate investors.

All these aspects can teach you how to become a successful investor and what you should avoid on your journey.

How to Make Big Money in Small Apartments

Pros Teaches about setting goals. Contains thought-provoking and practical methods.
Cons Not ideal for larger property investors.
What We Think 8 / 10

Buying and selling small apartments can be different than bigger properties.

But this book covers all the topics of real estate investing in small apartments.

My Life and 1,000 Houses

Pros Very motivational. Describes challenges you may face.
Cons More focused on storytelling than information.
What We Think 8 / 10

My Life and 1,000 Houses contains the real-life story of the author as well as methods of succeeding in real estate investing.

It is a great read for all kinds of investors. It's compellingly-written, and less dry than some of the other offerings on this list.

Real Estate Investing for Dummies

Pros It's to the point and answers any questions you may have.
Cons Mainly common sense information that isn't applicable to more advanced investors.
What We Think 8 / 10

Real Estate Investing for Dummies is an excellent read for beginners.

It answers all the questions that you might have regarding real estate investing.

Commercial Real Estate for Beginners

Pros Quick read. Clearly outlines the pros and cons of real estate investing.
Cons Not very in-depth.
What We Think 8.5 / 10

If you are looking for a quick book then this one's for you.

This book can teach you the basics of real estate investing and its advantages and disadvantages.