I have little to no experience in real estate, but have always been very interested in it. My current job gives me about 15-20 days off a month. I would like to do something on the side with real estate, but I do not know what. Where should I start? To learn the ropes should I obtain a sellers license or take courses? Any books you could recommend? I guess my primary question would be in what capacity could a person with my schedule get involved in real estate? Options for a side business in real estate? Thank you in advance.

LostMan

Why don't you first of decide where you'll be when you have so much time available and then contact the Secretary of State or the Real Estate Commission in that Jurisdiction to see what is required to obtain a License. You've listed yourself here as being in California, Texas and New Jersey. Chose one State and focus on it, then you can consider branching out.

You don't need a License to become an Investor . . . . just the Money to Bank Roll your investments.

Thanks for the reply. I currently reside in NJ and spend a great deal of time in CA by choice. I have looked at the requirements of becoming an agent and a broker in both CA and NJ. Is this a good place to start, just become an agent and go from there? In CA you could become a broker without previous experience as an agent, but that kind of sounds like a recipe for disaster. I am looking for a place to start and learn. Thanks again....any other advice?

Any state is going to require course work to get a license. To obtain experience, get a license and practice Real Estate. I do not see the confusion you have.

Well I guess my question to you would be: If you wanted to go into real estate development or invest in residential or commercial real estate would you recommend becoming a licensed agent or broker first?

You are talking about a whole other ballgame there with your last post! Many brokers/agents work long hours and I don't know why you have an interest in that with 15 to 20 days off a month.

You have much more leeway as an investor. As an investor not having to comply with ethics and not being held to such a high standard as brokers/agents trained on contracts and laws.

Residential real estate and commercial are worlds apart in how deals are structured and financed.

Personally you should make much more on investments than being a broker/agent. It just sounds like you have some free time and want to invest in real estate. You sound more like an investor that needs to get hooked up with a good investment broker to find you deals so you can grow your portfolio.

In commercial you will get eaten alive starting out. These are the big boys with deep pockets.

There are many asset classes in commercial land,retail,industrial,office,hotel,apartments,medical,self-storage,etc.

The list is endless and the people doing deals in these categories are specialists in what they do.

Thanks super realtor for the advice. If an aspiring real estate investor would like to invest in and build a portfolio of say apartment buildings, how could they start learning about the subject matter? Any books or courses you could recommend? I am interested in doing something like this in the next 2-3 years. I just would like to have a clue as to what I am doing first. I thought going for an agent or broker license would provide a good foundation in RE. Thanks again, and any other advice would be greatly appreciated.

Agent training is to pass a test to get liscensed and has nothing to do with learning real world experience.

You will find most brokerages focus on residential only,a few that do residential and commercial,and then specialty commercial shops.

Look at Buying and Selling Apartment Buildings by Steve Berges

Go to National Real Estate Investor website.

Got it, thanks. Do you yourself invest in commercial real estate? How did you start? Anyone else willing to tell their story. I should probably ask this in the commercial RE or real estate investment forums. Thanks again.