Hi all! I am so happy to be here!

[Nicole B.]

Hi everyone!

I would like to say hello and want to express my gratitude to all of you that make this site amazing! Seems to be answers for just about any question!

I am very new to the real estate investing and am really trying to soak up as much information as I can. 

My desired niche is investing in duplex, triplex and fourplexs.  I live in the bay area and notice that inventory is quite low here thus prices are way above my budget.  I am thinking of investing out-of-state at some point but worry that it might be a huge leap for my first investment.  I plan to learn as much as I can with the time I've got. 

Thanks for reading and I can't wait to talk with all of you more!

[Account Closed]

Nicole,

Welcome to BiggerPockets. This site can feel overwhelmed with information, but don't be. Treat it like a buffet. Absorb what you can. The rest may not be relevant until you're ready. SJREI is an organized club, but they're expensive to attend. It's like $38 each time you go, or you can buy their yearly membership for either $299 or $399/year.  I only go there whenever Bruce Norris gives a presentation. Bruce is considered the oracle of real estate for us CA investors. 

I have attended these REI meetups, which are hosting by BP members. @Shane Pearlman hosts a quarterly meetup in Santa Cruz. I like going there because the atmosphere and the people are great. @Jeff Pollack hosts a monthly meetup at Hofbrau in west San Jose. @J. Martin's monthly meetup at Whispers Cafe & Creperie in North San Jose. The next one is next Friday August 14.  All these meetups are free to attend. You just have to pay for your own drinks and food.  If J is there, you get free beers too.  Ice water is on the house.

I'm a regular attendant at Johnson's meetup for a good reason. Johnson lives in San Francisco, and he does that brutal commute to host a monthly meetup in San Jose while I live just around the corner. It would be a shame if I don't show up. 

Although the meetup doesn't start until 7pm. Some of us regular self-employed or unemployed and whoever wants to beat the rush hour normally show up at 4pm. It's a great time for us to catch up and chit chat on recent deals and deal structures and whatever else we have in mind. Looking forward to meeting you one of these days. In the meantime, keep your money in your purse and leave your credit cards at home when you attend those free seminars.

Best,