| How real estate investment clubs and similar groups | | | | Speakers are great, but I also like the regular events. |
| can help you make a lot of money, and give you a | | | | Every meeting starts with "Open Networking," for thirty |
| wealth of knowledge too. | | | | minutes or so. It's an opportunity to meet people, learn |
| Your local real estate investment clubs or associations | | | | a little, and take down names and numbers. We each |
| will educate you. It won't be book education, but useful | | | | have a name tag that also tells everyone what our |
| knowledge about your local real estate market. The | | | | primary interests are, ranging from rental properties to |
| people there are investors, many who have gotten | | | | fixer-uppers to wholesaling. |
| wealthy investing right in your town. This means you'll | | | | The monthly meeting then officially starts with |
| get meaningful and specific advice on what is working | | | | "Structured Networking." This involves filling out 3 x 5 |
| in your area, where to go for an inspector or property | | | | cards with your name, occupation, real estate |
| manager, and many other tips and based on real | | | | experience, and investments you are interested in. This |
| experience. | | | | information is systematically traded with randomly |
| There are also the actual money-making opportunities | | | | chosen others. It's surprizing how often profitable |
| that you'll find. People there may need a partner with | | | | connections are made during this process. |
| money, or a partner with time to find deals. Some | | | | The best part of the meeting is the "I have / I want" |
| have properties for sale and want to save the sales | | | | event. Members (or even visitors) can stand up and |
| commission by selling to one of the members. Also, if | | | | announce what they have and what they want. The |
| you have a business that's in any way related to real | | | | host writes their phone number on the overhead |
| estate, you can make valuable contacts. Handyman or | | | | projector. It is sometimes something as mundane as a |
| landscapers can often find business at our local real | | | | microwave an investor needs to get rid of, that |
| estate investment club meetings. | | | | someone doing a fixer-upper might need. Often, it is |
| Real Estate Investment Clubs - An Example | | | | someone who has money but needs help finding good |
| The local association that my wife and I belong to is | | | | investments. I once announced that I was looking for a |
| AZREIA, or "The Arizona Real Estate Investors | | | | mobile home park to buy, and I received three calls |
| Association." I'll tell you a little about it. If you don't have | | | | within a week. |
| a similar organization in your own town, this may give | | | | The meetings are not formal affairs. The millionaires in |
| you ideas for what to include if you start one. | | | | the room are as likely to have on jeans as a suit. |
| The association sponsors many educational events | | | | Everyone shares a common purpose - to make |
| and seminars for reasonable fees, but the regular | | | | money investing in real estate. In fact, even if you have |
| meetings are once each month, and included in the | | | | no money to invest, you can do just fine. Just go find a |
| membership fee. It cost $195 per year for the two of | | | | great deal, and if the numbers truly work, you can |
| us to join. As I write this, I am looking forward to | | | | probably find the money at these meetings. It is just |
| tomorrow's meeting, which will include a winner of the | | | | one more great thing about real estate investment |
| TV show "The Apprentice," Kendra Todd, telling us | | | | clubs. |
| how she made her first million in real estate. | | | | |