| First let's decide if we are looking for a real estate | | | | usually on your time as they are recorded and you |
| investment club, group, or association. | | | | can listed to whenever you want to if you can't |
| In many cities, you may just have to take what you | | | | make the live version of it.b. Online networking |
| can get. But if you have a choice you may find there | | | | opportunities through an active message board. This |
| might be a difference and you probably need to | | | | means you have a place to go and ask a question to |
| check out each group in your city that offers the | | | | the group and get multiple responses in between |
| most. But given the choice would you want to go to | | | | meeting times.c. Recording of the speakers at |
| an Attorney that was a member of the "Lawyers | | | | meetings. So while I know you are going to attend |
| Club" or would want one that was a member of the | | | | every meeting, you might miss something and having |
| "Missouri Bar Association." | | | | the ability to go back and replay a part or all of a |
| The word club tends to come across as people who | | | | meeting is very beneficial. |
| share a hobby and do you want to invest in real | | | | 4. Look for a real estate investing association that |
| estate as a hobby or invest in real estate as a | | | | stays up to date with what is happening with local |
| business. Then when you look at group, it seems to | | | | and national regulations. You want to find an |
| give you a feel of a loosely associated bunch of | | | | association that brings you information about rules |
| people, so if you want to foster change in legislation | | | | and regulations, local trends, and market data. |
| for example, would loosely associated people be able | | | | Again, you have to take what you can get. So if you |
| to do that. Association on the other hand means a | | | | can't find an association in your area that offers all of |
| group of organized people, who share a full time goal, | | | | these things, you might get involved with the only |
| and work together for the betterment of all involved. | | | | one you have and help them offer these things. It |
| So what should you look for in a group: | | | | may just be that they want to offer these things |
| 1. Look for an association that meets at least | | | | but don't have the willing and able bodies to provide |
| monthly if not more. This gives you a time to attend, | | | | these things. And if you have to start your own |
| meet people, have people meet you, ask questions, | | | | group National REIA ( ) will help you provide all of |
| learn, network. If you have a choice this is the ideal | | | | these things. |
| situation. Now if the group only meets online or | | | | This article is a part of a series of articles to help |
| virtually, you might try to work with this group and | | | | new people and experienced people figure out how |
| see if you can't find a way to get the people at the | | | | to utilize their REIA group and build their investing |
| virtual meeting to attend a live networking events in | | | | team. Please watch for our previous or upcoming |
| town - be sure to work with the leader of the virtual | | | | articles: |
| group. | | | | 1. Where to find a real estate investment club. |
| 2. Look for a association that has meetings that | | | | 2. What to look for in a real estate investment club. |
| offer both networking time and speaker time. You | | | | 3. What to take with you to a real estate |
| want a chance to learn from the speaker as well as | | | | investment club meeting. |
| time to talk to other people at the event. You also | | | | 4. Get the most out of the vendors at the real |
| want a group that actually networks, this means that | | | | estate investment club meeting. |
| people are going around the room and talking to a lot | | | | 5. Networking at the real estate investment club |
| of different people, not just breaking up into their | | | | meeting. |
| own little cliques for the duration. | | | | 6. Learning at the real estate investment club |
| 3. Also look for a realestate association that has an | | | | meeting. |
| active online presence that offers extra stuff like:a. | | | | 7. Follow up after the real estate investment club |
| Webinars for bonus training opportunities. This allows | | | | meeting. |
| you to squeeze in one or two extra training events - | | | | 8. Beyond the real estate investment club meeting. |