If my return is high, I might be okay having my principal remain in the investment longer because I’m earning a good return on that money. Most of the time, however, I like to get my principal back as quickly as possible because often my equity position would remain the same, even after my initial principal has been repaid.

The way you structure your real estate investments is also important. Look for deals that give you a lot of options for returns. For example, you can invest in certain real estate asset classes, which are groups of investments that behave similarly and are subject to the same market forces, to provide you with an opportunity to earn long-term

You have to learn the rules of the game, and then you have to play better than anyone else. —Albert Einstein

John Ruhlin, John Kane, Jon Vroman, and Hal Elrod, thank you for your friendship, inspiration, and support through this writing journey.

For me, the ideal scenario is that I get the principal back in one to two years.

Brad Johnson, Shawn Sparks, and Ryan Levesque: Thank you for your continued belief and support not only with this book but also by being the original members of the Lifestyle Investor Mastermind and Investment Club, which provided much of the original content for this book.

My goal is cash flow within the first month.

The 10 Commandments of the Lifestyle Investor™

Mike Koenigs and Marissa Brassfield: