The average real estate investor makes almost $124,000 per year. However, it's a tricky business, especially when you're starting out. 

However, that doesn't mean that money can't be made in this field. Many have become millionaires by becoming a real estate investor. It just takes the right kind of person to make real estate work for them.

What kind of person makes a good real estate investor? It all depends on the development of several habits. We'll talk more about these habits in the paragraphs below.

1. Study the Market

Becoming a real estate investor obviously means knowing how real estate works, but there's more to it than that. The real estate market is like any other kind of market.

Knowing the trends helps you guess what might happen in the future, and lets you know where to spend your money. Knowing state laws and how they affect real estate can help as well.

For instance, Delaware has something known as statutory trusts. This can be a great opportunity for investors. If you want to learn about them, you can read more here.

Knowing what the trends are now and what they're expected to become can help you further refine your business. This leads us to the next point on our list.

2. Find a Niche

Studying the real estate market ultimately means working towards a goal. In most cases, the goal is to develop a niche.

The term 'jack of all trades and master of none' doesn't apply to the real estate market. In the long run, it's better, and easier, to become an expert in one field and stick to it.

This will save you a lot of work and money. Being an expert in one field can help you avoid mistakes and may mean hiring fewer workers and paying fewer salaries.

There are many different real estate niches out there, and it's up to you which ones to choose.

3. Stay Up-To-Date

There's more to real estate than just buying properties and charging rent. In the day-to-day, you're going to need to make sure that everything is legal and in working order.

Neglect of property can result in legal action. Not only that, but nobody's going to want to stay in an apartment with no electricity or a bed bug infestation. Hiring a property manager will help with the repairs, but the financial aspects are still in your hands.

On that subject, you need to keep studying the market, even after you've found your niche and established yourself within it. Markets change, and knowing how it plays into your niche can be useful. It will help you make more money and avoid issues in the long run.

4. Build a Network

Real estate investment is a business, and like any other business, it works best when there are competent people at every level. You'll need to hire real estate agents to help sell your properties.

Property managers will help take care of them. Accountants will help with your taxes so you can focus more on investments. It might be a good idea to hire someone in marketing to help get the word out about your properties.

You may also want to develop relationships with a few other investors. They can offer advice when you need it, and you can help them out as well.

You may also want to have a lawyer, just in case. You should work to keep your properties from breaking laws, but things do happen, and you need to be prepared.

5. Respect and Kindness

Many people have the image of the ruthless, greedy landlord burned into their brain, but that idea is counterproductive. As a general rule, both customers and business partners respond better to respect and kindness.

Yes, there are people in the world who will try to take advantage of you, and no, you shouldn't let them. However, the vast majority of people don't want to cause trouble.

Treating everybody like a potential nuisance is a recipe for disaster. The truth is that people are sometimes late with the rent because money is tight. Sometimes, things break and it's not really anybody's fault.

Things happen, and trying to understand and sympathize will help you earn the respect of your coworkers and clients. It may even help attract more customers.

6. Understand the Risks

Real estate can be a very risky market, and you'll need to know what you're getting into. The payoff of a successful endeavor can be huge, but are you prepared for the loss if things go belly up?

The worst thing to do with any business is to assume you'll be successful. That type of attitude can ruin you.

The second worst thing to do is never take risks at all. Your business will become stagnant and eventually wither away. Take risks, but don't risk anything you can't afford to lose.

Becoming a Real Estate Investor: How to Do It, and Why

Becoming a real estate investor can be a great idea, but it's also a lot of responsibility. Being a successful investor involves mastering a few skills.

We've mentioned a few of these skills in the paragraphs above, but there are many more out there. We encourage you to do more research on your own if you're interested.

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