There are people who say that imitation is the best way to show how much you like someone. But when it comes to flipping houses, it may be the best way to make money, as well.

It doesn't matter if you hire a contractor or do the work yourself. Fix-and-flip investing is an art. At the beginning, there's a steep learning curve. It's a mix of careful calculation, thorough evaluation, and smart guesstimation, and there's a lot to learn.

A great way to speed up your learning curve as a real estate investor is to read a lot. A lot of people have done that before you. Whether you have already bought your first home or tried to make money by investing in rental properties, you may need to learn a little more about this type of real estate investing before you can make money.

Want to improve your skills at flipping homes? Try these books on real estate investing as a way to learn about the business at the start. They were written by people who know a lot about flipping houses. They can help you start a profitable business in no time.

The best books on flipping real estate

The Flipping Blueprint

by Luke Weber

In this book, there are clear, step-by-step instructions for people who like that kind of thing. This book is for you. As one reader put it, "I was amazed that he gives you the exact blueprint you can use to flip houses." Weber talks about more than just finding the right property. He also talks about how to choose the right market. He also talks about investing in real estate from afar and gives practical advice based on his years of flipping. The reviews are also very good. Average: The book has 4.8 stars out of five on Amazon, with 90% of users giving it a five-star review.

FLIP: How to Find, Fix, and Sell Houses for Profit

by Rick Villani and Clay Davis

If you want to learn how to flip houses, FLIP is the book for you. The book, which is very detailed, talks about how to find, buy, fix, and sell a house. It also talks about common problems that investors have when they try to flip a house. Executives from HomeFixers, a well-known source for investors who want to make money flipping houses, wrote it.

The Business of Flipping Homes: Short-Term Real Estate Investing for Long-Term Wealth

by William Bronchick and Robert Dahlstrom

The Business of Flipping Homes is a "A-to-Z guide" for both new and experienced investors. It talks about single-family house flipping, including how to find good properties, make them look good, and then sell them for a profit. Bronchick and Dahlstrom also talk about the most common mistakes that people make when they flip houses. They also talk about how to work with a real estate agent, how to manage the numbers and paperwork, and how to use technology to improve your results.

Dream Home: The Property Brothers' Ultimate Guide to Finding & Fixing Your Perfect House

by Jonathan Scott and Drew Scott

Not only are The Property Brothers popular on TV, but this book is great for anyone who wants to learn how to flip or improve a home. There are a lot of extras in the New York Times bestseller about buying, renovating, and selling houses, like design ideas and calendars. There are also lists of the most important home repair and DIY projects. A lot of people say the book is "easy to read" and "one of a kind."

50 Real Estate Investing Calculations

by Michael Lantrip

If you want to figure out your return on investment (ROI), after-repair value, equity, depreciation, cash flow, or any other part of the investing equation, use this tool. This book will take care of you. It comes in paperback and e-book format, and the digital version comes with 24 calculators to help you work through the numbers even faster.

The Book on Flipping Houses

by J. Scott

This book is so detailed that it gives you step-by-step instructions on how to find properties, figure out how much they're worth, work with contractors, and sell the place for a profit. A good thing? As an audiobook, you can listen on your way to work in the morning, or while you're working out.

The Real Estate Rehab Investing Bible: A Proven-Profit System for Finding, Funding, Fixing, and Flipping Houses…Without Lifting a Paintbrush

by Paul Esajian

The so-called "Bible of Rehabbing" breaks down author Paul Esajian's seven-step system for flipping properties into easy-to-follow steps. There is a lot of talk about finding properties, negotiating with contractors, and even managing multiple projects at the same time. There are also tips on how to get money for your flips and how to save money as you go.

Fix and Flip Your Way to Financial Freedom: Finding, Financing, Repairing, and Selling Investment Properties

by Mark Ferguson

Home flipper Mark Ferguson has written a detailed Kindle book about his best tips and tricks. It costs just over $3 on Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN). The book talks about how to find great deals, how to accurately estimate repair costs, how to negotiate, and more. There are even sections on how to grow your business so that you can handle 10 or more flips at the same time. Reviews of the book on Amazon say it's great for newbies and a "roadmap to success." It has 4.5 stars out of five.

How to Flip Your First House: The Beginner's Guide to House Flipping

by Jeff Leighton

This book is for people who are just starting out. It talks about how to find cheap properties, work with local experts, and build a successful team of contractors. It also explains the most common mistakes new flippers make, as well as helpful tips for making your first flip go more quickly. In addition to the Kindle and the audiobook, this one is also available on the web.

Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes

by George Nash

You can use this one if you're trying to buy a house that has been around for a while. Author George Nash wrote the book. It explains how to do vintage-style renovations and what you can expect when you do so. In one review, someone says the book is "nearly encyclopedic."

Real estate investing books: The honorable mentions

Foreclosure investing by Sharon Restrepo and Dwan Bent-Twyford: This book is about short sales and pre-foreclosure investing. Want a good deal? This guide can help you look for it. A detailed guide on how to find, buy, and flip short-sale properties, this book also talks about wholesaling, which is another way to make money with cheap investments.

As told by Lance Wills: How to Buy Foreclosure Homes First, think about a foreclosure for your first flip. Use this book to help you get through a complicated process that can be hard. It even has worksheets, checklists, and forms that you can use right away.

By Liran Koren, this book is the best step-by-step guide to finding and investing in real estate that's not on the market. There isn't always a lot of real estate for sale on the multiple listing service (MLS). Use this guide to find off-market properties that you can turn into cash. If you're interested in real estate investing, this book also dispels some common myths and talks about advanced acquisition methods like data mining and web scraping.

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