[Best Real Estate](/blog/real-estate-deal-analyzer-tools) Investing Communities and Forums

[[[[[Real estate investing](/blog/passive-real-estate-investing-guide)](/blog/brrrr-strategy-guide)](/blog/real-estate-investing-100-dollars)](/blog/passive-real-estate-investing-guide)](/blog/brrrr-strategy-guide) can feel isolating, especially when friends and family think you're crazy for wanting to become a landlord or flip houses. You need people who understand the challenges, celebrate the wins, and can answer questions when you're stuck.

The right community accelerates your learning, provides accountability, opens networking opportunities, and reminds you that obstacles you're facing have been solved by thousands of investors before you.

We've curated the best real estate investing communities and forums in 2026, from massive online platforms to specialized groups, helping you find your people and fast-track your investing education.

Why Community Matters for Real Estate Investors

Knowledge sharing: Communities aggregate decades of collective experience. Your specific challenge has likely been solved by someone in the group.

Motivation and accountability: When deals fall apart or tenants cause problems, community support keeps you moving forward.

Networking opportunities: Partners, lenders, contractors, property managers, and deal sources often come from community connections.

Market insights: Members in different locations share market-specific knowledge you can't find in books.

Credibility building: Active community participation establishes your reputation, helpful when raising capital or finding partners.

The Best Real Estate Investing Communities

1. BiggerPockets

Platform: Web forum + app
Members: 3+ million
Cost: Free (Pro membership $39.95/month optional)
Best for: All experience levels and strategies

BiggerPockets is the largest real estate investing community in the world. The forum contains over 2 million posts covering every imaginable topic, from analyzing your first deal to scaling to 1,000 units.

What makes it great:

• Massive knowledge base: Nearly every question has been asked and answered
• Active participation: Questions get responses within minutes to hours
• Diverse strategies: Rental properties, flipping, wholesaling, syndication, commercial—everything's covered
• Geographic diversity: Members in every U.S. state and many countries
• Beginner-friendly: Newbie questions welcomed and answered thoughtfully
• Resources included: Calculators, podcasts, blog articles, and books

Best for: Anyone serious about real estate investing. If you join only one community, make it BiggerPockets.

How to use it effectively:

• Start with the "Getting Started" section to learn forum culture
• Use search before posting—your question likely exists
• Contribute answers when you have expertise
• Connect with local investors through the "Your Local Community" boards
• Attend local BiggerPockets meetups for in-person networking

2. Real Estate Investing (Reddit: r/realestateinvesting)

Platform: Reddit
Members: 800,000+ subscribers
Cost: Free
Best for: Casual learning and diverse perspectives

The r/realestateinvesting subreddit provides active discussion with Reddit's characteristic mix of helpful advice, brutal honesty, and occasional entertainment.

What makes it great:

• Authenticity: Less promotional than some communities
• Quick responses: Active community with fast answers
• Upvote system: Best answers rise to the top
• Casual format: Less formal than traditional forums
• Deal analysis: Members will critique your deals honestly (sometimes brutally)

Challenges:

• Quality varies wildly
• Less organization than dedicated platforms
• Anonymous users mean less accountability
• Some bad advice mixed with the good

Best for: Investors who want diverse perspectives, enjoy Reddit's format, and can filter noise from signal.

Pro tip: Sort by "Top" and read the all-time best posts for concentrated wisdom. The "search within subreddit" function finds excellent threads on specific topics.

3. Local Real Estate Investor Associations (REIAs)

Platform: In-person + hybrid (many now offer online components)
Members: Varies by location (20-1,000+ per group)
Cost: $0-$500 annually depending on location
Best for: Building local networks and finding market-specific expertise

REIAs are local investment clubs that meet monthly, featuring guest speakers, networking opportunities, and vendor exhibitions. Nearly every mid-sized city has at least one REIA.

What makes them great:

• Local market focus: Insights specific to your investing area
• Face-to-face networking: Build real relationships
• Vendor connections: Meet lenders, contractors, inspectors, and property managers
• Guest speakers: Learn from successful local investors
• Deal flow: Some members share deals or partner opportunities

Challenges:

• Quality varies significantly by location
• Some groups are vendor-heavy with lots of sales pitches
• Can attract inexperienced "tire-kickers"
• Membership fees vary wildly

Best for: Investors who prefer in-person networking and want connections in their local market.

How to find REIAs: Search "[Your City] [Real Estate Investment](/blog/dscr-loan-fix-and-flip) Association" or "REIA." Try multiple groups before committing—quality varies.

4. Connected Investors

Platform: Web-based social network
Members: 800,000+
Cost: Free basic; $49-$99/month premium
Best for: Deal networking and wholesaling

Connected Investors is a social network specifically for real estate investors, with particular strength in deal sharing, JV partnerships, and wholesale transactions.

What makes it great:

• Deal marketplace: Members share off-market deals
• Investor profiles: Find partners, lenders, or team members
• Market-specific groups: Connect with investors in your target markets
• Educational resources: Training materials included
• Mobile app: Network on the go

Challenges:

• Premium features require subscription
• Some deals listed aren't actual deals
• Quality control less rigorous than curated platforms

Best for: Active investors looking for deals, JV partners, or wholesale opportunities.

5. Facebook Groups (Various)

Platform: Facebook
Members: Varies (1,000-100,000+ per group)
Cost: Free
Best for: Casual community and local connections

Hundreds of real estate investing Facebook groups exist, from broad groups like "Real Estate Investing Strategies" to ultra-specific like "Wisconsin Landlords" or "[BRRRR Method](/blog/brrrr-method-explained) Investors."

Popular groups:

• "Real Estate Investing - The Creative Investor's Clubhouse" (90,000+ members)
• "Landlords Network" (50,000+ members)
• Various state and city-specific landlord groups
• Strategy-specific groups (STR investors, house flippers, etc.)

What makes them great:

• Easy access: Most people already use Facebook
• Local groups: Find city-specific communities
• Active discussions: Real-time conversations
• Diverse niches: Groups for every imaginable specialty

Challenges:

• Information organization is poor
• Search functionality limited
• Drama and off-topic discussions common
• Privacy concerns with Facebook

Best for: Investors already active on Facebook who want easy access to community without learning new platforms.

Pro tip: Join 3-5 groups maximum. Too many groups creates noise without value.

6. Landlordology Community

Platform: Web forum
Members: 50,000+
Cost: Free
Best for: Landlords and property managers

Landlordology focuses specifically on [property management](/blog/property-management-complete-guide), tenant issues, and landlording. If you self-manage rentals, this community addresses your specific challenges.

What makes it great:

• Landlord-specific topics: [Tenant screening](/blog/best-property-management-software-2026), evictions, leases, maintenance
• Curated content: High-quality articles and resources
• Form templates: Rental applications, leases, and notices
• State-specific advice: Landlord-tenant law varies by state; members share local knowledge

Best for: Self-managing landlords who need practical property management guidance.

7. The Real Estate Guys Investor Summit Community

Platform: Annual events + online community
Members: Thousands of summit attendees
Cost: Summit tickets $500-$2,000; online community included
Best for: Serious investors who invest in high-quality education and networking

The Real Estate Guys host annual summits and investor cruises that create a tight-knit community of serious, educated investors. The relationships formed at events continue online year-round.

What makes it great:

• High-quality members: Self-selection through event costs attracts serious investors
• Deep relationships: Multi-day events create stronger bonds than online-only communities
• Sophisticated strategies: Advanced tax, legal, and economic education
• Guest experts: Access to attorneys, CPAs, economists, and experienced operators

Challenges:

• Significant financial commitment
• Events only occur annually (though online component is year-round)

Best for: Established investors willing to invest significantly in education and high-quality networking.

8. Niche Strategy Communities

Several specialized communities serve specific investing strategies:

Short-term rental investors:

• The Host Community (Airbnb/STR operators)
• STR Power Network (Facebook group)

House flippers:

• House Flipping HQ (online platform)
• Flipping Junkie (blog community)

Multifamily syndicators:

• Apartment Investor Pro (Jake and Gino community)
• Multifamily Investor Nation (Facebook group)

Commercial investors:

• CRE Online Community (commercial real estate forum)

Best for: Investors committed to a specific strategy who want deep, specialized knowledge.

9. Mentorship Programs and Masterminds

Platform: Private groups (often Slack, Discord, or proprietary platforms)
Members: Usually 10-500 per group
Cost: $1,000-$50,000+ annually
Best for: Investors who can afford premium guidance and want serious accountability

Many successful investors and educators offer paid mastermind groups that combine education, community, and direct access to mentors.

Examples:

• Various BiggerPockets coaching programs
• Niche coaching communities (flipping, multifamily, STR, etc.)
• Peer masterminds (no formal instructor, just committed members)

What makes them great:

• High commitment: Financial investment creates serious participation
• Accountability: Regular check-ins and goal setting
• Direct mentor access: Ask questions directly to experienced investors
• Curated members: Attracts serious, action-oriented investors

Challenges:

• Expensive
• Quality varies dramatically
• Some programs are better marketed than executed
• Not necessary for success (plenty of investors succeed with free communities)

Best for: Investors who have capital to invest in education and value accountability and direct mentorship.

Warning: Research thoroughly before joining expensive programs. Look for verified testimonials, money-back guarantees, and clear curricula. Many free communities provide 90% of the value at 0% of the cost.

10. Industry-Specific Professional Organizations

Platform: Varies
Members: Varies
Cost: $100-$500+ annually
Best for: Professional networking and credibility

Organizations like the National Apartment Association, National Association of Residential Property Managers, and National Association of Realtors offer communities of professionals with certifications and education.

Best for: Investors operating at professional scale or seeking certifications and continuing education.

How to Choose the Right Community

Don't try to be active in 20 communities. Instead:

Start with one large general community (BiggerPockets) to learn fundamentals and diverse strategies.

Add one local community (REIA or local Facebook group) to build market-specific connections.

Join one strategy-specific community once you've chosen your approach (flipping, STR, multifamily, etc.).

Consider premium options only after exhausting value from free resources.

Getting Maximum Value from Communities

Show Up Consistently

Lurking provides some value, but active participation creates exponential returns. Set a goal: contribute 2-3 thoughtful responses weekly, share your progress monthly, ask questions when stuck.

Give Before You Take

Answer questions for beginners. Share what you've learned. Provide value before asking for favors. Community karma is real.

Meet People In-Person

Online communities are great, but in-person relationships are stronger. Attend local meetups, conferences, and events whenever possible.

Filter Noise from Signal

Not all advice is created equal. Consider the source: Has this person done what you're trying to do? Are they successful at it? Do they have a product to sell you?

Avoid Analysis Paralysis

Communities can become procrastination disguised as education. If you've spent 100 hours in communities but haven't analyzed a single deal, you're learning, not investing.

Red Flags to Watch For

Guru worship: Communities that treat one person as infallible often become echo chambers.

Get-rich-quick promises: Legitimate communities emphasize work and realistic timelines.

Heavy sales pitches: Some "communities" exist only to funnel members into expensive programs.

Hostility to questions: Healthy communities welcome beginners and honest questions.

Lack of transparency: The best community members share real numbers and real challenges, not just wins.

FAQ

Should I join online communities or focus on local in-person groups?

Both serve different purposes. Online communities provide 24/7 access, diverse perspectives, and massive knowledge bases. Local groups offer face-to-face networking, market-specific insights, and stronger relationships. The best approach uses both: BiggerPockets or similar online for knowledge, plus one local REIA for in-person networking.

Are paid communities and masterminds worth the money?

It depends. Free communities like BiggerPockets provide 90% of the knowledge at 0% of the cost. Paid communities offer accountability, curated members, and direct mentor access—valuable IF: (1) you've exhausted free resources, (2) you're action-oriented enough to implement, (3) the program has verified success stories. Never join expensive programs you can't comfortably afford.

How do I avoid scammers and bad advice in real estate communities?

Consider the source: What has this person actually accomplished? Do they invest themselves or just teach? Are they transparent about their deals and numbers? Cross-reference advice with multiple sources. Be especially skeptical of: no-money-down schemes, guaranteed returns, complicated structures you don't understand, and anyone pressuring you to act fast.

What if my local REIA is terrible?

Try all local groups before giving up—most cities have 2-3 options with different cultures. If truly no quality local groups exist, focus on online communities and attend regional conferences in nearby cities. Quality virtual connections beat poor-quality local ones.

How much time should I spend in real estate investing communities?

Limit community participation to 3-5 hours weekly maximum unless you're actively solving a specific problem. Use communities to answer specific questions, stay motivated, and network—not as procrastination. Analyzing deals and taking action matter more than forum time.

Can I really learn real estate investing from free online communities?

Absolutely. Thousands of successful investors built portfolios using only free resources like BiggerPockets, Reddit, and YouTube. Free communities provide knowledge; you provide action and discipline. Paid programs can accelerate learning, but they're not necessary. If budget is tight, start free—upgrade to paid resources after your first profitable deal.

What's the best community for complete beginners?

BiggerPockets offers the best combination of beginner-friendliness, comprehensive resources, and active community. The "Getting Started" section addresses common newbie questions, and the community welcomes basic questions. The free rental calculator, podcast, and blog provide complete education from first concept to first deal.

Should I use my real name or stay anonymous in online communities?

Using your real name builds credibility and stronger relationships—valuable for networking and partnerships. However, legitimate reasons for anonymity exist (privacy, employment, security). You can build reputation under a consistent username, but real names accelerate relationship building. Choose based on your comfort and goals.

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Your network determines your net worth. The right community provides education, accountability, and opportunities that accelerate your investing journey. Start with BiggerPockets, add one local group, engage consistently, and watch how community connections transform your real estate investing success.

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