New Investor from Chicago Looking for Advice

[Louis Burkhart]

Hello Everyone,

To start off with, I must confess that I'm very new to the world of real estate investment. I've been reading up on the subject for a few months now but have a LOT to learn. I live in Chicago and am currently seeking my first investment as something I can owner-occupy. I’m looking around the Logan/Bucktown/Wicker and Lincoln Park areas for those familiar with Chicago. I’d like to keep my first investment under 200k solely because I’m reluctant to completely dive head first into my first investment. I also have about 70k in cash should I find something worthy of a cash offer.

To begin with, can anyone point me in a good direction for finding a decent database of foreclosures and REOs without scouring bank websites or having to pay a membership fee? Other than that, any advice would be very much welcomed!

It’s a pleasure to be posting on this forum – having a passive reader for a little while now.

Thanks!