New Real Estate Investor

[Michael Reynolds]

My wife and I are learning and preparing for real estate investing. Our home in Santa Barbara has built up some equity, to borrow against for purchases. We hope to get started within a few months.

We are also considering the option of finding deals for other buyers, while we prepare to make our own purchases. I have read the reviews on BiggerPockets about FindItAndFundIt.com, and think we should pass on that. There is also FreedomSoft.com, which I have not read anyting about so far. Although the software appears interesting, I'm not sure what to think of the monthly licensing fee.

It seems that, in both these cases, the systems are designed around locating properties and finding investors, using third-party resources. I'm sure that most people don't need these resources, however how does one build a list of qualified investors? Is there a source of buyers available, without the need of paying money to companies I know little about? I want to build a list, in which I can know who would be interested in various kinds of properties or deals.

Also, is the idea of locating properties for investors, for a percentage, a reasonable course to take, while we prepare to do investing on our own?

Thank you!

---Michael Reynolds