New Real Estate Investor looking for guidance in Bay Area

[Caleathia Bowman]

Hello BP community. I go by Cee Cee for short. I'm making a scary decision to change careers, I am interested real estate investing. I would greatly appreciate anyone's knowledge they have in the industry. I'd like to ask how everyone got started? I would love to hear from anyone and everyone! Let's become contacts! If you're in my area, I'd really like to meet. Have a great day.

[Arlen Chou]

@Caleathia Bowman I hate to be the guy to throw cold water on your dreams, but I really think you need to slow down and think this out before quitting your job.  I am not sure if you were being facetious about your comment to @Matt K. about having money to start, but you definitely need a "war chest" if you are going to drop the W2 and plunge into REI. Without a good amount of cash AND a W2, it will be very hard for you to get a loan.

Do you have specific REI strategy that you are considering? There are so many ways to make money, it is important that you get focused: buy and hold, fix and flip, local vs remote, etc. If you have a job, don't cut that loose before you get your planning done first. I know that there are people who have gone the "jump all in" route and made it, but I am 100% sure those people are the exception. You are not making a career change, you are starting a business... The American small business landscape is strewn with carcasses of dead and dying small businesses that were started by people who did not plan before moving forward. Take the time to create a "business plan" before you make a drastic change in your income stream. It does not need to be a fancy 30 page power point, just something simple to outline your goals and how you plan to achieve them.

I don't make these comments lightly.  I say this with the experience of opening several small business in CA, Texas, Mexico and the Philippines. Plan before you jump...