How can I become a real estate investor?

I know this question was long ago answered, with plenty of great answers below, but I thought I'd also throw in my two cents.  To be fully transparent, I'm a co-founder of a real estate crowdfunding platform.  That said, one reason we started http://realtyshares.com/  is while we think it's great to invest in real estate but it's tough to have the time to deal with renting it and maintaining it, particularly if the best markets for investing aren't near where you live!  There are other crowdfunding platforms with similar benefits, but the goal is to be able to make some of these types of investments accessible early on, with as little as $5k to invest.  That's a great place to start.  You don't own the whole building, of course, but dollar-for-dollar you'll basically be able to get a better return because there are efficiencies in managing a larger property.  Anyway, I won't turn Quora into an advertising platform for us, so happy to honestly answer any questions or explain the industry if you want to DM me.

I agree with Alan, find a mentor and get the advice from an expert on the field. Once you´ve learned  how to acquire, manage and sell the property, then you are ready to go. You can also look for another ways to earn money and duplicate your investments like buying mortgage notes, wich is a similar to buying a property, because you are buying an asset that will give you a revenue in a period of time. I suggest you check out this blog so you can learn a little more about investing: http://bit.ly/17BNXgm Or visit this site: http://www.fciexchange.com

To become real estate investor is not a bog deal, its just a buying or selling process. The main thing in this to become a good marketing person who have a great knowledge of buying or selling. Also, they have a ability to convince other person.

1) Examine your portfolio. Investing in real estate is typically viewed as a portfolio enhancer, an investment that complements stocks and bonds. Used as part of a larger investment plan, it can add stability to your income. 2) Evaluate your assets. Real estate investment can require a significant amount of capital, even beyond the price of the purchase. Ask yourself if you can afford to keep your investment if the market turns bad. Since real estate is a tangible property, it will require maintenance and upkeep. While this is normally covered by rent paid by tenants, there may be times when there are no tenants to occupy the property, meaning that the costs will fall to the owner. 3) Know that flipping a house can get expensive. If you decide to go into real estate trading, you have to be prepared for the worst. In the year that it might take you to renovate and sell, the market could take a dive and you'd be stuck with mortgage payments while you wait for it to sell. Make sure that you have the capital to commit to a potentially long-term project.@http://www.mgprojekt.com.pl

If you want to become a real estate investor then you have to follow the bellow mention informetions.The informetions are as follows:-  1 Understand the Market a)     Learn about real estate b)     Decide your level of risk. c)      Decide between equity and debt. d)     Choose an investment in your sector. e)     Learn about real estate trading 2   Analyze Your Finances a)     Examine your portfolio b)     Evaluate your assets c)      Know that flipping a house can get expensive. 3  Assemble a Team a)     Make a plan. b)     Learn to rely on other people c)      Work with a good real estate agent. d)     Talk to mortgage brokers http://www.focorealty.com/

A way to do that is through crowdfunding. If interested to learn more I suggest you to take a look at the article we have published on http://crowdvalley.com. Here the direct link to the post: http://www.crowdvalley.com/2013/04/29/real-estate-crowdfunding/

This is a very common question I receive as a successful investor. I created a video just for you to answer the question! Please don't hesitate to reach out to me if you have any follow up questions!

In line with Alan and Dan's comments, the first step is education.  I also think you want to make a decision between active real estate investing (i.e. acquiring property, managing property, selling property) or passive real estate investing (working with a professional who can help acquire the property and manage the day-to-day activity or even buying REITs on the public markets).  We published an eBook on this a few weeks ago if you're interested: http://www.slideshare.net/SGBmedia/realty-mogul-passiverealestateinvesting

I see the others answers are good and touch on the technical aspects of real estate investing, so I will just offer a different type of advice. Know why you want to be a real estate investor, and make sure it's for the right reasons. The purpose of real estate investing is to (eventually) generate profit. Take your emotions out of the equation, no matter how difficult it is at times, if you want to succeed in this type of business. Learn the downsides, and make sure your personality is compatible with being a Landlord. Also, I have seen people get into this business because they think it will make them big shots somehow. You see, others are impressed when they learn you own more than one property. These investors overextended themselves by buying multiple properties and getting in over their heads, hiring a staff of people to oversee everything, rather than taking it slow. They were like actors playing the part of a Landlord, rather than actually being one. They all failed, with properties gone into foreclosure, and tails between the legs. So... get your feet wet and sink in slowly. Don't jump into the deep end.