Real estate investing seminars

[Henrique Da Costa]

Hi- I'm new to BP and real estate investing. I keep seeing those Facebook ads about signing up for free real estate investing seminars. Are they real or just trying to sell you on stuff? I'm from Boston and signed up for one on April 1st.

[Ann Bellamy]

Yes, they are just trying to sell you stuff.  Almost without exception.  Go to all the free ones, network with other like minded people, but keep the following in mind:

1.  They are in the business of selling seminars and mentorships, not the real estate business.  All that crap about giving back and sharing the dream is exactly that, crap.  Selling education is lucrative.

2.  Leave your credit card behind so you are not tempted when you get stars in your eyes.

3. You can find lots of real estate investors in MA, there is a good REIA in Chelmsford, NewEnglandREIA, it meets April 5, go to that and talk to people. Ask them. Ask them if the first meeting is free. I run a large group in Waltham and Worcester, info is in my profile, it is free.

4.  Read all you can here on BP, you will get a much better education.  Start with the Education tab above.

5.  A very few of the seminar gurus actually have good information, so if you decide you want to buy a program, network locally first and talk to people who have taken programs.  Don't buy at the free seminar, I promise you they will give you a second chance, and probably at a lower price.  For what you pay for a mentorship, you can put a down payment on a property.  I can probably count the gurus with real information on one hand.  

I formed the BostonAREIA in 2007 and sold out to my partner when I got sick of all the BS from the gurus and selling speakers.  It's a business full of snake oil salesmen.