Hi there, my name is Shane Casad. I'm a Michigan State student, and originally from Michigan Center( a small town just outside of Jackson). I say "not quite so new to BP" because I have been a member for quite sometime. I've listened to podcasts, read articles, and read some of the BP books. However, I have never formally introduced myself or been active on the site because I was always too nervous to post. I finally decided to take the advice you all have been trying to pound into our heads to TAKE ACTION, so this is my first step. 

I have no formal experience with investing in real estate, although I did work for a contractor one summer for extra work, and he himself owns a few rentals. Right now I'm looking to continue the education process, meet some awesome people with similar interests, and hopefully get some great advice on where to start, etc. 

I'm interested in R.E for many reasons. I feel that investing in R.E is a good option to reach solid financial security, and autonomy. I have always wanted to follow in my grandfather's steps and own my own business and be an entrepreneur, and the one thing I love to learn about, and talk about is R.E. Another reason I am interested in it is that, I feel that investors really can make a difference in the communities in which they operate. Investors can take homes that have been neglected, and bring them back to life which in turn has a positive effect on the area it is in. 

The reason I finally decided to take the plunge and get started interacting is because I see so much opportunity around me. For example, I visited home this last weekend, and a house that has been sitting vacant(I believe) for months, caught my eye. I remembered an article by Ben Leybovich(I think it was Ben, but I'm not 100%) about how he started out by finding a vacant home, finding the owners contact info, calling him that day, making a deal, closed in 2 weeks, and pocketed $20,000. I just seen an opportunity that has been sitting there, and thought to myself "why not me?".

Lastly, a quick, fun story about the first time I discovered the power of R.E:

I was in the 8th grade and sitting in my Social Studies class. We started a long project that would span a few weeks, where we each would be settlers coming from Europe, and making a life for ourselves in America. We each started with the same amount of money, and were given the opportunity to choose to buy land, build houses, own a business(like being a blacksmith, etc.), invest in stocks, and other things. Being the young visionary I was, I took all my money and bought every piece of property I could, built houses, rented them, sold the homes and other parcels of land for higher prices, and at the end of the project a few weeks later, I had the most money in the class. I have been interested in R.E since that day.

So that's a little about me, and I hope to learn more about many of you. 

Thanks for reading,

Shane