Tips For Newbies At Their First Real Estate Meetup?

Question

Hello everyone!

My fiance and I have never been to a real estate meetup before, but are wanting to start attending them regularly. However, we have little experience with real estate and are nervous about what we should say or do once we're there. We are trying to step out of our comfort zone and become more involved, as well as to network and make connections with other investors. We read books and listen to every BiggerPockets episode that comes out, but we are very eager to start learning what we can from more experienced investors!

A little background info on us:

We are getting married in June of 2024. We bought our first home together in August 2022 (primary residence), and are currently in the process of renovating it. It is a sturdy home built in 1977 that just needs to be modernized. Our plan is to force its appreciation up and then pull the equity out for our next property.

Does anyone have any advice for us for attending our first meetup? Any tips for what to talk about or how to introduce ourselves to other investors? Any advice would be welcome!

Lieren Schuette · Answer

Thank you for these specific tips!

Lieren Schuette · Answer

I really appreciate your feedback! Thank you for providing me with specific examples of a 5-second and 30-second pitch; that is extremely helpful to us. It seems like you have picked up a ton of really useful tips and tricks in your real estate experience. I appreciate you sharing your knowledge!

Eliott Elias · Answer

Meet as many people as possible. Take notes and write down phone numbers.

Lieren Schuette · Answer

Great tip, I like that it takes the pressure off of me and I can listen and learn from their experiences. Thank you so much for commenting!

Lieren Schuette · Answer

We actually went through Ashley's Rookie Bootcamp last year and I do remember her telling us that, so thank you for reminding me! It sounds like a great way to break the ice once we're there!

Nathan Gesner · Answer

Don't ramble.Don't pretend to be something you are not. Be honest about where you are.Have two things:1. 5-second pitch to introduce yourself. "Hi, my name is Noah. I'm looking to a househack a single-family with at least five bedrooms, 3 bathrooms." This is huge. In fact, you should know exactly what you are looking for and you should be telling everyone you meet or speak with, even the strangers at the grocery store. It works!2. 30-second pitch. If someone asks you a follow up or the opportunity presents itself, give them more detail. Be specific! "We are are prequalified for up to $200,000 and want to purchase a property within the next 90 days. We need at least five bedrooms in a b+ communit, but will also consider a tri-plex or four-plex, and we would prefer something that only requires cosmetic improvements because we both work full-time."3. Learn how to ask questions that encourage others to ask you questions. For example, "What do you do for work?" will typically obligate them to ask what you do for work. "What do you invest in?" will elicit a similar question from them. Decide what you want to talk about, then ask others about that topic. Doesn't always work, but it helps.4. Something I'm still working on as a 53-year-old: every conversation should be about the other person. Be curious. People love to talk about themselves and hear you say their name. If you appear genuinely interested in others, they will become interested in you and want to help you.5. If you are willing to help others in exchange for knowledge, have a list of skills and look for opportunities. As people, "is there anything you need help with that is slowing your growth?" You may find a 60-year-old investor that hasn't got a clue about social media and you can help him get started. Or maybe someone is working a flip or renovation and they will let you work with them while learning how to install tile or change light fixtures.Meetups are an opportunity to build relationships and accelerate your learning or find deals. Like any relationship, the effort you put in will determine the results.

Ben Einspahr · Answer

@Lieren Schuette, this is a great question to ask and made me think back on the first meet up I attended. Believe it our not there will be many others just like you that are just starting out and looking to connect to others that are in a place where they want to in 5-10 years. My Advise:-Go in there with an open might and introduce yourself to as many people as possible.-People love talking about themselves and ask questions haha-Bring notepad if you need to jot down anyones contact info-Write down your short and long term goals and how REI fits into them. yes they will change quite often but coming form first hand experience, it is really looking back and rereading them and seeing your progress.-Last is be a consistent attendee! I still keep in touch with some of the people I met at my very first meetup.Best of luck and excited to hear how it goes.

Joshua Filkill · Answer

@Joe Garretson That's what I did when I went to my first meetup. Just send a message to someone who is going to the meetup, most people that go to these are extremely friendly and willing to help. @Lieren Schuette As for what to talk about when you get there, just ask questions to others about their investments. Remember, it's almost human nature for a lot of people to love to talk about themselves so this can be an easy conversation starter and allows you to learn from someone who is experienced. Try to tell everyone you meet what you're planning to do, you never know who you may meet that can help you.

Joe Garretson · Answer

I'm in a similar boat in that I've not attended a meetup yet but there's a local group that just scheduled the next one on the 19th and I'm actually able to go to it! I'm an introvert by nature so while I want to go, I'm already freaking out about it. Ashley who hosts the rookie podcast constantly harped on getting to meetups and using this trick to make it easier: find somebody here on BP, on the meetup page, the Facebook page, wherever this group has a social presence and "befriend" them before you go. In other words, have a familiar face you can search out when you get there so you're not just walking into a room full of strangers. I'm doing this very thing right now messaging with another local investor who's here on BP. Aside from that, just be yourself! And even more important, just get there! Go, talk real estate the rest will fall into place.