What kind of person do you need?

[Zach Strong]

As a newbie investor I'm hungry for and interested in providing value to anyone who helps me along in my investing journey. For anyone more seasoned than me (all of you, every single one), what member of your team turbo charged your journey and why? What door did they help you open? Have you been able to turn around and open that door for someone else?  

[Nathan Harden]

I think that the 2 most crucial people starting out will be your lender and realtor. The reason that I say these two is because you are going to need a lender on every transaction (except for creative deals).

Also, an agent will be the one to open doors for you as they appear. Get a good agent though. Someone who understands investing and has their hands in the off-market properties as well. 

But Nathan, why not a contractor? A contractor isn't always crucial if you are just starting out. You may be looking for turnkey or just light cosmetic fixers to get your toes wet. Small projects to start out are the way to go, don't bite off more than you can chew. Those first few properties, everything you need to do (turnkey or light rehab) will all be on Youtube University if you aren't sure how to install floors, paint, fixtures, etc.