What is one piece of advice you would give to your younger self about navigating the real estate market, given your current experience? What do you wish you knew then?

Get the help you need Considering my journey, and the lessons I have learned during my real estate career, one piece of advice I would give to my younger self about navigating the real estate market, given my current experience, is "asking for help doesn't show weakness or lack of initiative, it shows wisdom and the kind of caution that precedes success". You see, at the start of my real estate career, I was ambitious and on this mission to prove myself, both to myself, and to some others, and this mindset ended up costing me many growth opportunities and chances at building meaningful relationships. I wish I knew and understood the importance of getting help earlier on, it would have made it easier for me to navigate the real estate market more effectively, and avoid the costly mistakes I repeatedly walked into without even realizing it. It would have also saved me from many of the stress and frustrations I suffered through, from doing things in the same way and expecting different results, and the daunting feeling of being overwhelmed by situations that seemed just too much for me to handle. I wish my younger self understood that having help not only made things easier, but also boosted growth and success as well as reduced mistakes and errors, and the stress and frustrations they came with, because help is like walking with someone who knows the way, and with that person showing you the ropes, it becomes easier to avoid pitfalls and reach your destination quicker and more confidently.

If I could give my younger self one piece of advice about navigating the real estate market, it would be to trust the process and not rush. Early on, I wanted to move fast and get results quickly, but I've learned that the best success comes from building lasting relationships and understanding that things take time. The real estate market can be unpredictable, and it's easy to get caught up in the highs and lows. I wish I had known that patience truly pays off. Building a solid network, staying consistent, and providing value to clients rather than focusing solely on the immediate deal will set you up for long-term success. The market will always have its cycles, but a steady, thoughtful approach will help you navigate the ups and downs. In the early days, I sometimes focused too much on closing a deal right away, but what really matters is the reputation you build and the trust you earn. If I could go back, I'd remind myself that the long game in real estate is where the real value lies. Today, I see the impact of patience and hard work paying off with clients who continue to return and refer their friends year after year.

If I'm being honest with myself, if I could turn back the clock and advise my younger self on how to navigate the real estate business, I would tell him to build relationships. In the early days of my career, I was so much about the numbers that the success formula was to just close deals. But as time went by, I understood that the most value comes from the people you connect with. Relationships in the real estate business are so much bigger than merely the transaction. If only I had known earlier how important it is to take the time to invest in people. The connections you make with clients, colleagues, or industry peers are what lead to ultimate success. It's not about the deals you are currently working on, but building trust and staying close for the long haul. The relationships you establish early on can offer unlimited possibilities later on, and that's what sets a good agent apart from a great one. So, if you're just beginning, be sure to pay attention to people. Don't merely pursue the next sale. Invest time in establishing a network of people who believe in you. Ultimately, those relationships will reward you far more than any transaction ever could.

If I could give one piece of advice to my younger self about navigating the real estate market, it would be this: when it comes to real estate investing, the lowest purchase price doesn't equal the best opportunity. While many buyers—especially new investors—are drawn to properties that appear to offer high returns on paper, I've learned that focusing solely on price or theoretical ROI often leads to disappointment. Properties in severely distressed condition or located in high-risk neighborhoods may seem like bargains, but they often attract a tenant pool that brings higher turnover, more frequent issues, and increased management burden. In my experience, these properties rarely produce any real upside—not in the short term, and not in the long term. They can quickly become money pits, both financially and operationally. What I wish I knew early on is that successful investing requires a property to meet a minimum standard across three core areas: physical condition, location quality, and neighborhood dynamics. If any one of those is significantly lacking, it becomes nearly impossible to generate consistent, positive results—regardless of how the numbers might look in a spreadsheet. Focus on quality over cheap deals. A solid, stable asset in a manageable area will almost always outperform a theoretical "high return" property that comes with constant problems.

If I could give my younger self one piece of advice about navigating the real estate market, it would be this: slow down and think long-term. When I was just starting out, like a lot of people, I was focused on quick wins - chasing every opportunity, every hot market trend, trying to do everything at once. But real estate- whether you're investing, lending, or building a business in it - rewards strategy and patience, not speed. I wish I knew then how important it is to build relationships the right way, to stay consistent in any market, and to always lead with value - not just deals. The clients you help today, the partners you treat right - that's the real equity you build over time. And one more thing: don't wait for the "perfect time" to start. The market is never perfect. But your mindset can be.

One piece of advice I'd give my younger self is: focus less on timing the market and more on finding the right deal based on cash flow and value. Early on, I hesitated too long waiting for "perfect" conditions—lower prices, better rates—only to watch great properties get taken by more decisive investors. What I wish I knew then is that the best time to buy is when the numbers work and you have a clear exit or hold strategy. Trying to outguess the market can stall your momentum. Instead, build a system to evaluate deals consistently and act when the fundamentals align. Success in real estate isn't about predicting—it's about preparing, positioning, and executing.

If I could give my younger self one piece of advice about navigating the real estate market, it would be to stop waiting for the "perfect" moment and start taking calculated action sooner. Early on, I spent too much time overthinking deals, worrying about market shifts, and second-guessing whether I was making the right move. I thought I needed to time the market just right or find the perfect property, but in reality, the biggest wins came from simply getting in, learning through experience, and holding on for the long term. I wish I had known that momentum and consistency matter more than perfection. Even the deals that didn't look amazing on paper at the time turned out to be great moves simply because I held onto them and let the market do its thing. I also wish I had understood the importance of relationships—building strong networks with lenders, contractors, agents, and other investors is just as valuable as the properties themselves. The market will always fluctuate, but what matters most is your ability to adapt, stay informed, and keep moving forward. Start early, stay disciplined, and trust that smart action compounds over time.

One of the most important lessons I've learned throughout my real estate journey is that all strategies in real estate work when executed properly so stick to until you master it. From buying rental properties, to fix and flip, property management and wholesaling, if you focus on just one of these strategies and become an expert in that niche, your income will outgrow being a jack of all trades master of none. Having shiny object syndrome is common among novice real estate enthusiasts and it takes a lot of mental bandwidth to ignore all other money making strategies but the long term benefits of doing just one strategy first make it all worth it.

One piece of advice I'd give my younger self is: Focus less on the perfect deal and more on consistent action. Early on, I wasted time overanalyzing properties and trying to time the market. I wish I knew then that momentum matters more — the lessons, relationships, and confidence come from doing, not just planning. The best deals often come after you've built a system, not before. I'd also remind myself that the market will go through cycles, but long-term discipline always beats short-term fear.

I would definitely tell myself to focus on longevity. More specifically, look beyond just the property itself when assessing how good of a property or investment it will be in the long run. A really nice house can be unenjoyable when in a noisy, high-traffic area. A really nice house can also decline in value over time if the area itself is seeing more people move away than move to it due to decreasing job opportunities or a failing economy. It's external factors like those that heavily impact the longevity of a real estate investment, so it's important to look into them first.

Two pieces of advice: When the market in down buy more real estate and never sell it. The two greatest regrets I have in my 20 plus year real estate career is not buying more property in the 2008 real estate crash and regrating every property I have ever sold. Real estate investing is a long game. Buying undervalued assets in a down market and holding them over time is a excellent way to building wealth. Cash flow can be generated through rents with equity being gained through time of ownership.

The one piece of advice I'd give my younger self about navigating the real estate market is to embrace calculated risks. Coming from a humble background, I was often overly cautious, which led me to miss out on several lucrative opportunities. Looking back, I wish I'd understood that life is about balance—taking risks is okay as long as you have a well-thought-out strategy to succeed.

One crucial advice I would give my younger self is to prioritise the property location over its price. Properties in areas with good connectivity and infrastructure appreciate a lot more in value than those in random locations. Back then I didn't understand how infrastructure projects, such as new highways or upcoming metro lines, could affect property value. Instead, I used to focus on how I could find a property at the lowest price, not worrying about its location and scope for growth. I wish I had known at the time that investing in a well-located property would yield me far better long-term returns, even if I had to spend more initially. My real estate investment portfolio would appear much different today if I had possessed this knowledge back in those early days.

If I could give my younger self one piece of advice about navigating the real estate market, it would be to start sooner and hold on to more properties. Like many investors, I underestimated the long-term power of holding real estate. I was too focused on quick profits and flipping, but if I had simply hung on to more of the properties I bought early in my career, the financial outcome would've been exponentially better. Real estate tends to reward those who are in it for the long haul. If you can ride out the ups and downs and avoid panic selling, you'll almost always come out ahead in the long run. Regards, Ben Wagner Real Estate Investor & Homebuyer Leave The Key Homebuyers https://leavethekey.com/

There are a lot more jobs out there than simply working as a real estate agent. Wholesaling, flipping, Rent-to-own work, staging, social media, investing, and working as a broker are all great options. Don't be afraid to explore what's out there and create your own job description.

I'd tell my younger self this: buy for the life you actually live, not the one you imagine on Zillow. When I first looked into real estate, I got swept up in aesthetics and "potential resale value." What I didn't factor in was how much time and money I'd burn maintaining a place that didn't fit my day-to-day life — longer commutes, underused space, unexpected costs. Looking back, I wish I'd focused more on cash flow comfort and lifestyle alignment: Can I still breathe if the boiler breaks? Do I actually use that extra room, or just heat it? Real estate is emotional, but the smartest move is boring: buy what makes your real life easier, not your Instagram feed shinier. The market will change. Interest rates will jump. What stays constant is how a home supports — or drains — your life. Choose the former. Every time.

If I were to sit down with my younger self for a straight-up real conversation about the real estate business. I would say one thing very clearly, just don't rush. At the time, I believed quick ownership of property was what it was all about. I didn't know patience, market education, and questioning were equally important to cash. I wish I spent more time studying the market, identifying red flags in dodgy land deals, and taking advice from more savvy people before signing. I learned it the hard way, and not every "good deal" is a good deal. Now I know timing is everything, location is everything, and clarity in law is everything. Had I waited a little bit longer, I would have saved myself from stress and money. So, this is what I have learned. Take things slow, double-check paperwork, and always obtain legal representation before investing. That one decision might save you years of regret.

I'm Austin Hair, an American Ninja Warrior national finalist, world champion wakeboarder, and an investor focused on helping others achieve financial freedom through passive real estate investing. If I could give one piece of advice to my younger self about real estate, it would be: focus earlier on building systems for scale and start raising capital as soon as possible. Real estate is not just about buying properties—it's about leveraging other people's money, data-driven decision-making, and compounding results over time. I wish I had understood the value of building a repeatable process and tapping into investor networks rather than relying solely on personal savings. That shift alone can accelerate growth by years. Austin Hair is a real estate developer who specializes in finding locations that allow his clients to scale faster and his investors compound safer. With a career spanning over a decade as a professional wakeboarder and more recently as an American Ninja Warrior finalist, Austin brings a unique blend of discipline and calculated risk-taking to the world of real estate investment. As an expert in passive investing, he finds low-risk, high-return opportunities ensuring his investors realize substantial upside. Austin has been featured on NBC's American Ninja Warrior, CBS Sports, ESPN, and has more than 25,000 downloads on his podcast, Helping Healthcare Scale. He has spoken about real estate at the Association of Dental Support Organizations and the Dental Entrepreneurial Organization.