The basics of passive real estate investing are best learned through experience, so to start understanding real estate, you should invest in a property or two. You can even buy some properties with no money down using creative financing, but it's often difficult to find deals with this type of funding. If you're not comfortable starting this way, real estate clubs or even getting your real estate license can be a great way to build a knowledge foundation and better equip yourself. Another great way to learn is by investing in a real estate syndication.