Getting Started in Real Estate

[Kaitlyn Castillo]

How did you all get started? Who mentored you?

[Emma Powell]

I reached out to people in my local REIA meetings (I found REIAs here on BP, looked it up, and started attending my local chapters). The ones who were doing commercial multifamily, development, or self storage, I took to lunch, met at their offices, ran possible projects by. I started attending conferences and online events with other commercial investors. The first couple of deals I put under contract fell apart, but trying to get it done was a massive learning experience. When I found the one I eventually bought first, I had a decent group of people I could reach out to for questions and partners, both local and not. We banded together to underwrite and negotiate the deal, raise money, and manage the asset.