Tips for First REIA Meeting

[James Somers]

I signed up for my first in-person REIA meeting this week and wanted to ask the BiggerPockets community for some tips / questions I should be ready to ask or ready to answer once I am there. Since I haven't yet purchased my first investment property, I really have been thinking I would like to partner with someone on the first deal. I have the funding available, but the only rehab estimation I have knowledge of is through the books/podcasts I have listened to. I am fairly handy and handle the majority of updates in my primary residence, but I haven't taken on any large jobs like rehabbing an entire kitchen or bathroom. Are there specific tips that would be useful to start the process of finding a partner? I don't expect to find "the one" on the first meeting but I would like to lay some framework down or at least know who the big sharks are. Any and all tips are appreciated!

[Billy Daniel]

I would say, don't go with the intention of finding a partner or someone to invest with.  Go with the intention of networking and building relationships.  People are turned off by the person who brings up partnering within 10 minutes of meeting them.  Good luck!