Newbie Investor Seeking Advice! (San Diego, CA)

[Brandon Hood]

Hello BiggerPockets World!  I would like to introduce myself as a new real estate investor with big aspirations and dreams.  (If you are in a rush, feel free to skip to my questions at the bottom of this post to save time!) I found BiggerPockets a couple of days ago and have read The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Real Estate Investing, and several related articles, so I want to dive in head first with getting active on the forums as I continually hear how great of a resource you all are.

My name is Brandon Hood, a recent graduate of the University of San Diego (USD), and since graduating in January, I have acquired my residential real estate license.  While I know this isn't necessary, my first question is how do I leverage the resources that I have as a real estate agent to benefit other investors and myself?  Legal and ethical practices are a must for me on this front!

Second, to speak to what I specifically want to do in speculating and investing, I want to leverage OPM (I have little of my own capital) into Single Family Residential Wholesales and Flips here in San Diego County. I have several investors who would like to be equity partners, so finding properties and buyers is definitely on the agenda. What are the best ways to grow a buyer's list? I am already scheduled to attend 4 REIA networking groups, so other suggestions are welcome. If I go the Craigslist route, what are the best practices to generate buyers and/or sellers with those ads? What is the best way to set up an entity with 3-4 parties involved? (LLC, etc?).

Lastly, and more generally, what are some tips that people learned from trial and error, both positively and negatively, that they remember from beginning and growing more successful?

Thanks for all of your help and I look forward to connecting with you all soon!

Question overview:

• As a Realtor®, what can I do (legally and ethically) to leverage my resources to benefit other investors and my efforts?
• What are the best ways to grow buyers lists?
  • Networking?
  • Craigslist?
• What is the best way to set up an entity with 3-4 parties involved? (LLC, etc?)
• What are some general tips for new investors?

-Brandon Hood