Your first step as a real estate investor is usually the most difficult. I often talk to new investors who feel overwhelmed by everything they don’t know about real estate: the terminology, the market, the capital, the risks and rewards.

If this sounds familiar, let me reassure you: real estate investing is not rocket science. Anyone can be a real estate investor. All you need to take the plunge is a little savings and a little know-how. The $40,000 or $60,000 you save for a 20% down payment will become the foundation for long-term real estate investing and wealth building. Start saving your real estate investment income from Day 1, growing it in a separate account, and soon you’ll be ready to buy your second, third or tenth property.