5 Ways Technology Can Help You Become a Real Estate Expert
There are few proven paths to building wealth in modern society. If there were, everyone would be clamoring for the same careers and jobs. But if you study the art of wealth building in this nation, you’ll find that real estate is well represented. A significant percentage of Americans have either built their wealth by carving out careers in real estate, or they’ve taken the money they already have and strategically invested it in real estate assets to exponential increase their net worths.
The good news is that you can, too. And thanks to technology, you can get started from the comfort of your own home. Here’s a look at some of the top ways technology can help you become a bona fide real estate expert:
1. Immerse Yourself in Authoritative Real Estate Resources
The internet is essentially a rich library of educational content that you can access at any time. The key is to find the right information and to drown out the rest. Here are some good industry resources:
- BiggerPockets. There’s arguably no better online resource for informal real estate education than BiggerPockets. It’s an online community where people come together to share ideas, engage in conversation, and immerse in cutting-edge education. There’s a blog, forum, podcast, educational resources, and more.
- Inman. If BiggerPockets is casual and approachable, Inman is more of a news website. But despite it’s more clinical approach, it’s a very useful resource for staying up to date on the latest news in the industry.
- ActiveRain. This blog has a primary focus on real estate agents, but also appeals to investors and other professionals. Not only is there a ton of content on the site, but it’s also a great place to connect with others and build a network.
Spend some time marinating in these resources. Make it a point to spend at least one hour per day reading content from these reputable websites and blogs. Record notes on what you learn and take deep dives into topics that interest you.
2. Follow Industry Leaders on Social Media
Social media is more than a distraction. You simply have to learn to use it well. One of the biggest benefits to using networks like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube is that you’re able to follow experts in your field and learn from them around the clock.
For best results, create new social media profiles and make them dedicated real estate education profiles. In other words, you don’t follow your friends, relatives, or coworkers. Instead, you only connect with authoritative figures in the world of real estate. This eliminates distractions and helps you gain more from your time online.
3. Get Your Real Estate License Online
Trying to become a real estate agent? In many states, you can actually complete the majority of the real estate licensure process online.
Take New York, for example. Getting your New York real estate license online is as simple as signing up for a course and completing the coursework. The only thing left to do is pass the state exam.
4. Study Market Trends
Whether you’re an agent or investor, you have to stay current with the market. Falling behind on what’s happening – locally and nationally – will render you obsolete.
Websites like Zillow, Realtor, and Redfin make it easy to track what’s happening so that you can understand inventory, values, and everything else that’s happening in the market at any given time.
5. Listen to These Real Estate Podcasts
Podcasts are a super convenient way to learn. They allow you to take downtime that would otherwise be wasted – like driving, cooking, or sitting in waiting rooms – and use it as precious time to learn and improve. Check out this list for a rundown of the best real estate podcasts of 2020.
Build a Career You Can Be Proud Of
Real estate has the potential to open a lot of doors for you. Thanks to the power of the interent and modern technology, you can begin building your career from anywhere. Eventually you’ll need to get off the couch and get some real world experience, but for now you can sit down, kick up your feet, and start learning.