I've bought over $100 million worth of real estate. 6 things I wish I knew at the beginning:

The best deals can be analyzed on the back of a napkin. 99% of people overcomplicate real estate to the point it is unapproachable. A good deal is simple.

Cash is king. No cash? Forget real estate and find a way to get some cash.

Sourcing deals is the most important part. It is a numbers game. Don't get emotionally tied to any one deal. You'll underwrite 100 deals before you buy one. Do the work.

Analysis paralysis is real. There are hundreds of factors that impact the value of a piece of real estate or the future head winds or tailwinds you may face. If you’re the type of person who needs every answer before you pull the trigger, you’ll never make the leap.

Real estate is not passive. People think you just buy a property and then go to your mailbox and cash the checks. That couldn't be further from the truth. If you don't know how to manage people and delegate, you will fail.

The tax efficiency of real estate is simply unmatched. I got cost seg studies done on my entire portfolio by RE Cost Seg. I have deferred millions in taxes because of this. Cost segregation + bonus depreciation should be part of your RE strategy from day 1.