Networking at REIA Meetings

[Luis Lopez]

If there's one piece of advice for rookies I see more often than others, it's to get involved with their local REIA groups ASAP. I'm registered and ready to go for next month's DREIA meeting here in Miami. But I want to prepare accordingly to make my first visit as effective as possible and make a good first impression. Understanding that the turn-over ratio for new wholesalers is quite high, I would expect that the experienced investors would know this and probably see each one as "just another one of those guys".

Would anyone here have any suggestions or advice on how to navigate through my very first meeting?  Being new, I obviously have my goals such as finding potential customers (i.e. cash buyers), obtaining referrals for closing agents & realtors, get a feel for the local market, etc...BUT i don't have much to offer in return except for open ears and promises of commitment.  

Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.

P.S. I'm also new to networking so I got a lot to work on but thankfully, I'm not THAT shy.

[Marcus Maloney]

@Payden Miller is exactly right you have to be attentive and willing to receive some cold shoulders. You will need to be thick skin some will be willing to talk with you and others will not. There is no certain formula, feel free to ask questions, many newbies go and do not network because they believe they have nothing to offer. You do your zeal and excitement, you can start bird dogging for some of the investors which will help you build your team.

"Enjoying the Journey"