Sachdeo’s debut is a thorough, nuts-and-bolts resource for readers who are serious about building a portfolio of rental properties that facilitates “the generation of passive income” and promises “long-term capital appreciation.” Sachdeo inspires with the story of transforming his own financial profile from one of “significant debt” to a multi-million-dollar portfolio, but he makes clear that success in real estate, as in all businesses, demands hard work, especially as unruly tenants, costly repairs, “regulatory challenges,” and more all pose regular obstacles. Sachdeo demystifies what it takes to make it work, covering basics like finding a promising location, managing effectively, underwriting, money raising, network building, and much more, with a welcome emphasis on the practical steps that investors need to know now—and how to prepare for all that can go wrong.

Sachdeo presents a host of checklists, sidebars, and hard-won insights, including step-by-step walkthroughs for refinancing, renovating, and other “major steps when building a rental property investment portfolio.” The guidance is both best-practices general (“Screen tenants thoroughly”; “Establish clear rental criteria”) and helpfully granular (one table demonstrates the “Advantages and Disadvantages of a Cash Purchase,” and Sachdeo’s “comprehensive list of financial documents that you should review” lives up to its title).

The result is a guide for readers who are serious about putting in the work and understanding all the decisions and planning that stand between them and their dream. Sachdeo specializes in answering the questions you might not know to ask, like what to look for in a management company or a property manager, the pros and cons of incorporation, and environmental factors to keep in mind when scouting potential properties. Numerous case studies demonstrate the reality of being a landlord, laying out the strategies individuals adopted and the lessons they learned. A hefty glossary of real estate terms will help arm the would-be mogul prior to any negotiation.

Takeaway: Practical, thorough guide to investing in and managing rental properties.

Comparable Titles: Brandon Turner’s The Book on Rental Property Investing, Symon He’s Rental Property Investing QuickStart Guide.

Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A