Complete newbie to investing looking for some insight

[Cody Flicek]

Hello all Cody Flicek here! Last name is pronounced flea check, but to get to the question at hand, would it be valuable to go ahead and get an RE license so I can look on the MLS myself? I'm almost 20 and have little to no money at the moment so I can't hire someone to find deals for me. I'm mainly looking to get into multi family and possibly start out by getting an FHA loan on a quad and renting out the other rooms, so any advice there would be much appreciated as well.

Thank you for your help!

Cody

[Zachary Ware]

Being a Real Estate agent can provide valuable insights and advantages that can help you learn the business and kick-start your real estate investing journey. This is especially true if you are going to start investing locally. Below are the top 4 ways I believe being an agent can help the process: 

1. Market Knowledge: As an agent, you gain in-depth knowledge of local RE markets, including trends, property values, and rental rates. Because you can work with investors, you will be able to pick up where they like to invest and how they underwrite. This market expertise allows you to identify potentially lucrative investment opportunities and make well-informed decisions based on what you are seeing in the market. 

2. Access to Deals: RE Agent you will often have access to a wide range of properties, including off-market deals and distressed properties. This access can provide you as an investor with a competitive edge, as you can explore a broader range of investment options that might not be easily available to the general public. 

3. Networking Opportunities: Being a RE agent enables you to build a strong network of other industry professionals, including agents, brokers, partners, or mentors, and gain insights from experienced investors, helping navigate the complexities that real estate can have. These relationships can lead to not only access to off-market deals but also collaborative opportunities and overall professional growth. 

4. Transaction Experience: As a RE agent, you can gain practical experience in transactions, from negotiating deals to managing contracts and handling paperwork. This experience can be highly beneficial when it comes to purchasing investment properties, as you become familiar with the entire process and can apply your knowledge to your own investments. Seeing and working a large volume of deals being an agent can be equivalent to years of experience you would get only being an investor. Imagine as an investor you were able to buy one property every year over 5 years, you have gained 5 transactions worth of experience. Now imagine if you were able to close 1 deal every 4 months as an agent, you would have 15 transactions of experience over that same time period.