Last Updated on August 17, 2026
There’s always a few secrets, in every avenue of Real Estate, that, when known, sky rocket the investors success far more quickly, and today I want to share them with you in this free video ->
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Author: Dustin Hahn
Real estate investors often get stuck because they spend too much time learning and not enough time taking action. The better approach is to understand the basics, choose a strategy, study real deals, and start applying what you learn.
In this 30 minute video, Dutch and I talk about what separates active investors from people who keep spinning their wheels. We also cover several real estate strategies outside tax liens and tax deeds.
What Is a Tax Lien?
A tax lien is a legal claim by a government agency on a person’s property or assets due to unpaid taxes. It protects the government’s financial interest and stops the owner from selling or refinancing the property until the debt, plus interest and fees, is fully paid.
What Is a Tax Deed?
A tax deed is a county legal document that gives the county title to a property when real estate taxes stay unpaid long enough. After that, the county sells the property to recover the unpaid taxes.
Table of contents
What Makes a Real Estate Investor Successful?
Successful investors know how to research deals, control risk, make decisions, and stay consistent. They do not need to know everything before getting started.
The goal is to learn enough to make informed decisions, then improve with experience.
Here are five areas every investor should understand.
1. Know How to Find Real Deals
You need a reliable way to find properties that fit your strategy.
That may include tax lien sales, tax deed auctions, FSBO properties, wholesale deals, rentals, or commercial real estate.
Do not study every strategy at once. Pick one or two areas and learn how deals actually work.
2. Learn How to Evaluate a Property
A low price does not automatically mean a good deal.
You still need to research:
- Property condition
- Estimated market value
- Repair costs
- Taxes and liens
- Local demand
- Your expected profit
- Your exit strategy
Knowing your numbers before you buy can help prevent expensive mistakes.
Key Takeaways
- Successful investors research deals, control risks, and make informed decisions based on experience.
- New investors should focus on actionable strategies instead of searching for the perfect deal.
- It’s essential to learn about property evaluation, local markets, and exit plans to make smart investments.
- Tax lien and tax deed investors should explore other strategies like FSBO, wholesaling, and rentals for broader opportunities.
- To break into a new market, study local conditions and review actual properties before investing.
Why Do Some Real Estate Investors Never Make Progress?
Many investors stay stuck because they keep researching without taking the next step. Education matters, but information only becomes useful when you apply it.
Some people watch videos, attend webinars, and read about real estate for months without reviewing actual properties.
Start studying real deals. Compare values. Check county records. Attend auctions. Learn how experienced investors make decisions.
That experience makes the process easier to understand.
3. Stop Waiting for the Perfect Deal
Your first deal does not need to be your biggest deal.
Many new investors spend so much time trying to find the perfect property that they never buy anything.
Set clear buying rules instead.
Know how much you can spend, what return you want, what risks you will accept, and what type of property fits your strategy.
Should Tax Lien and Tax Deed Investors Learn Other Strategies?
Yes. Understanding other real estate strategies can give tax lien and tax deed investors more options.
A property may not fit your original plan, but another strategy could make sense.
For example, investors may also study:
- FSBO properties
- Wholesaling
- Rental properties
- Commercial real estate
- Direct property purchases
Learning how these strategies work can also help you understand property values, buyers, sellers, and local demand.
4. Understand the Market Before Investing
Every real estate market works differently.
Property values, competition, rent prices, taxes, auction rules, and buyer demand can change from one county to another.
Before investing outside your normal area, research the local market first.
Check recent sales. Review active listings. Study county records. Learn the local tax sale process if tax liens or deeds are part of your plan.
5. Have a Clear Exit Plan
Know what you want to do with a property before you buy it.
Your plan might include:
- Reselling the property
- Renting it
- Holding the land
- Renovating and selling
- Wholesaling the deal
- Collecting interest from a tax lien certificate
Your exit plan affects how much you should pay and how much risk makes sense.
How Can You Break Into a New Real Estate Market?
Start small and research real properties before spending money.
Choose a market. Study recent sales and local property values. Learn the rules that apply to your strategy. Then review actual deals until you understand what a good purchase looks like.
Dutch and I cover this process in the video, along with FSBO deals, commercial real estate, wholesaling, tax liens, and tax deeds.
The goal is not to chase every strategy.
It is to understand your options and find the method that fits your budget, skills, and goals.& Deeds.
FAQ
Opportunities can include FSBO properties, wholesaling, commercial real estate, tax liens, and tax deeds. The best fit depends on your budget, experience, and local market.
Learn how to research deals, estimate costs, understand local rules, and know your exit plan before putting money into a property.
Many investors spend too much time researching and never take action. Progress usually comes from learning one strategy, studying real deals, and consistently applying what you learn.
Yes. Investors can also study wholesaling, FSBO deals, rentals, and commercial properties to find more ways to build their real estate business.
Start by studying local prices, property demand, sale rules, and common deal types. Then review actual properties before committing money.
