Flipping a property

[Lawrence Lloyd paclob]

I have found a property that I really want to jump on and do a flip, but I'm still new to the REI world and don't have much connections at the time, I have been reading up and doing my homework and running the numbers and everything is looking good and I have the little cash needed to hold the property but I need to find a hard money lender to actually get this deal going. It's not all that big on profit but it would be a nice size profit for a first timer like me, also I would really want to get my feet wet and actually take action and I could really use that profit money and use it to my next flip and so on.

First question, is there any local REI on Oahu that could help to point me in the direction to talk to a hard money lender?

Second question, should I put in a offer even if I haven't found a hard money lender or should I wait to put in a offer after I find a hard money lender?  

Any advice or tips would be helpful and thanks in advance.

Lloyd P.