NEWBIE COMING FROM CHICAGO!!!

[Phillip Dunbar]

Hey all, I'm a new member from the Chicago area and in just reaching out to you all. I'm new to the whole real estate game and have no ideas as to where I start. I've put a little money to the side but not nearly enough. I'm working on my credit which also isn't good. I really just need guidance and would really appreciate any help I receive. 

Thanks in advance for any help.

[Dale Stevens]

First let me say welcome to a fellow Chicago area investor. Then I offer you credit for taking the time to create an account and posting. Many "wanna-be" investors just linger and never get involved nor introduce themselves. That is a huge step.

I did see another poster recommend the CCIA. Yes, getting out to local groups is important. It is said we should all learn from our mistakes, but I would rather learn from someone else's mistake so that I don't have to suffer that failure. So get out to all the local groups. Each group, I have found personally, has a completely different vibe or personality to it. 

I have been told to avoid some groups, and I went anyway, and found it very useful. There are clubs that are listed here on BP and others that are not. GO TO ALL OF THEM. Find that one or two that fit you, your desires and your personality. That is key. Think about your grade school or high school experience. You had a ton of teachers, all probably knew their subject matter well, but only 1 or 2 really "grabbed" you and engaged you. Well, the same can be said of local clubs. Get out to ALL of them. Feel free to ask me any questions about the ones I have attended. Some I felt were a waste of my time. Some were nothing but sales pitches, others full of people that were of the mantra 'fake it until you make it'. 

Dale