Who it's for: First-time investors, homeowners thinking about renting out a unit, and career changers exploring real estate. Comfortable with a spreadsheet is enough.
Where it gets you: You will be able to run the numbers on a rental property, understand the risks and costs most beginners miss, and know how small development projects come together.
Stage 1 Start here
The numbers behind a rental property, and how to tell a good deal from a bad one.
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1
How to Analyze a Rental Property: Cash Flow, Cap Rate, and the Numbers That Matter
Learn to analyze a rental property step by step: rent, expenses, NOI, cap rate, cash flow, cash-on-cash return, and DSCR, with a full worked example.
Stage 2 Find deals
Where investment properties come from, on and off the market, and how to work leads legally.
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2
How to Find Real Estate Deals: On-Market, Off-Market, and Government-Owned Leads
Where real estate investors find deals: listings, public records, government-owned homes, auctions, and networking, plus outreach rules and a lead pipeline.
Stage 3 How development works
From an idea to a financed, buildable project.
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3
Real Estate Development on Coursera (University of Michigan) — Review, Tips & Tricks
Review of Michigan's Real Estate Development course on Coursera: what it covers, who it's for, and practical tips for your first small development deal.
Stage 4 Tools and income
AI and listing tools, and the compliance rules that come with them.
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4
Claude + Zillow in 2027: Every Way to Make Money Through Zillow's New Claude Connector
How Zillow's Claude connector works, where its leads and money flow, and how agents, landlords, and side hustlers can earn through Zillow in 2027.
Coming next on this path
We're adding these steps. New articles appear here automatically when they publish.
- House hacking: living in one unit and renting the rest
- REITs vs owning property
- Landlord basics: screening, leases, and fair housing
- How mortgages and interest rates work
Common questions
How much money do I need to start investing in real estate?
It varies widely. Owner-occupied loans on small multifamily homes can require much less down than investment-property loans, and REITs let you invest small amounts through a brokerage. Keep your emergency fund separate either way.
What is a good cap rate?
There is no universal number. Cap rates vary by city, property type, and interest rates. Compare a property with similar nearby properties, and always check cash flow after your actual financing costs.
Other learning paths
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