As a successful Real Estate Investor / Mentor in Austin, TX, I work with many people who are interested in learning more about investing. Many of these people are curious about how to get started. My answer is as follows: if you want to create wealth for yourself through real estate, then it's best to spend the next 2 years investing in education, personal development, and associating with others in the field who are successful.

Since we are living in the 'I Want It Now Generation', this answer is generally unpopular.

Understandably, many people who realize that real estate is the way to build wealth don't necessarily want to invest the time and effort into an industry that they may not like. So what is the best way to get involved safely in real estate investing without risking too much of your time or money?

The best way to get started as an investor on a part-time basis is through 'Bird Dogging'. Birddogs hunt down what the investor is seeking. Bird dogs typically work for an investor for a marketing fee and are able to earn anywhere between $100-500 per transaction. While the cash is good, the best part about being a bird dog is the opportunity to learn from an investor. Most investors are paid to invest in real estate, not educate novices, and they won't teach you unless you bring them a property. Therefore, being able to obtain knowledge and at the same time earn revenue makes bird dogging a popular way for many new investors to begin.

Some of the advantages of bird dogging are as follows:

• You can dabble part-time
• Very little capital needed to invest.
• You can 'earn while you learn' without risk.
• There is no financial risk.
• Finally, you can find out if real estate investing is really for you, before spending hundreds or thousands on educational material and mentorship.

As a bird dog, you are specifically responsible for finding distressed properties and motivated sellers. The strategy, financing, and professionals required to complete the transaction is the responsibility of the investor. As such, the bulk of the funds from the investor will remain with the investor. Typically, a bird dog will earn anywhere from $100 - $500 per transaction. But again, it is the investor with the knowledge and experience who assumes the risk. And if the bird dog is able to learn and gain valuable insight and experience from this transaction and earns a couple of extra dollars, then this scenario is a win for everyone!

In conclusion, Real Estate Investing is not for everyone. Bird dogging is an inexpensive, risk free way to find out if it's something that you would like to pursue, before investing hundreds and thousands of dollars into seminars, books, and mentorship programs. Find out what's involved first hand, experience the challenges as well as the rewards, and some extra cash in the process.

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