Approach Investors/Partners Before Purchase Offer or After?

[Jonah Cervantes]

Hey everyone, fresh real estate investor hatchling here. 

I'm in my learning phase and just starting to analyze deals. I've never done a deal and I'm jobless right now—I live in south Orange County, CA and I hope to own an out-of-state small multi-family for cash flow before the end of April 2021.

Burning question in my novice mind: once I feel that I have a great deal, should I approach investors/partners before or after getting a property under contract? Obviously, with no cash, I'll be contributing sweat equity and splitting property equity 50/50 or 70/30 to get my first deal paid for and closed. I simply have never been through this process before—any perspective greatly appreciated!

Also—if there are any other investors in the Orange County area that would like to exchange ideas about strategies or just chat about the market, I'm open to connecting over Zoom! Open to learning anything at this point! Send a message if interested.