10 Tips from the Real Estate Passive Income Playbook
- Invest for the long term – focus on steady cash flow and equity growth rather than flipping. 
- Focus on aspects other than cash flow – added value comes from property value increases, rent increases, tax benefits, cost segregation, principal reduction and refinancing to put money into other properties. 
- Invest in median-income price markets. 
- Stick with new construction – better to own fewer properties of better quality than many properties with potential maintenance issues. 
- Let experts manage your properties. 
- Rental properties are for cash flow, not for charity – have a property manager as your go-between, as it's easy to get emotionally hooked with tenants. 
- Invest in landlord-friendly states – In states that don't safeguard landlords, there may be instances in which you can't collect rent. 
- Plug into a support team. There's much more to building to rent than meets the eye – credit readings, criminal background checks, verifying income, pulling building permits and building inspections. 
- Choose a vetted build-to-rent company – Make sure you invest in a company with a profitable track record that has built at least 1,000 properties and survived down cycles. 
- Keep learning even after you've invested your money. 
- BONUS: Involve your family in your investments. Teach your kids about intelligent investing. 
