I am stunned when I hear that many of the so called real estate gurus are charging from $3,000 to $15,000 for their seminars and "mentoring". Has the world gone mad?
As a real estate investor and author I am often asked if I can recommend these real estate seminars. I answer with a question... "What have you done on your own to learn about real estate investing?" Then I offer the following suggestions:
Go to your public library and read all the books on real estate investing that have been published in the last ten years. Many of the gurus have written books where they explain their investing techniques... the same ones they present in their high priced seminars. Libraries are FREE!
Visit a few used books stores and you will find good books and often cassette tape courses on real estate investing. They will cost just a few dollars.
On the internet you will find a number of real estate investing forums. Here you can interact with investors of all experience levels. Someone will ask a question and they often will get very good answers from a number of experienced investors.
If you visit these forums and read the questions and answers for a few weeks you will find that you are receiving a very good investing education. You will soon get a clear picture of what's working now. You will see what others are doing successfully. Soon you will know what questions you need answered and you can ask for help. And it is all FREE.
We would all like an expert to take our hand and lead us into risk free real estate investing success. The gurus recognize this and offer their seminar suckers... excuse me, I mean seminar STUDENTS... expensive "mentoring" programs. Trust me... you can get better advice free, on internet real estate forums. Just do a Google search for "real estate forums".
Real estate investor clubs are another excellent place to get help. With so much interest in real estate most every city of any size has at least one real estate "club". Just do a Google search for "real estate clubs".
If you remember your early history of the gold rush you may recall that those who made the most money were the ones selling "shovels to the miners." That is exactly what the gurus and most real estate clubs are doing... selling education to wanta-be investors.
Most clubs are profit making ventures and each month they bring in a guru to give a mini-seminar designed to motivate attendees into buying their learning material... "Available today only at a deep discount!"
The best thing about the clubs is that you can meet other investors. Exchange phone numbers and build your own support group. With three or four people you can invest in learning material as a group and share your learning experience at reduced cost.
I don't suggest that you become a real estate agent, but the learning material available for passing your state's licensing test can be helpful. Check with your state's real estate board or commission to see if they publish on book on real estate law and regulation.
Trade schools that teach people to pass the agents license test have good course material. You may find some in used books stores or you can run an little ad in the "Wanted" section of a "Penny Saver" type of publication.
Finally, is all real estate education offered for sale a rip-off. Of course not. You can speed your way to success once you know what is worth buying and what is not. Do a Google search for "real estate investing" and you will find displayed a wide variety of offers. Do your own investing research first... then you will recognize good value when you see it.
You'll will find a list of top quality material at reasonable prices listed on my own Web site
http://CashFlowInstitute.com About the Author
Mark Walters is a third generation real estate investor and author. He publishes an online newsletter for real estate investors that can be found here..
http://ThePowerLetter.com 
