Purpose of Joining REIA in MD/DC/VA

[Renae Pinkney]

Hey Guys, 

So I went to a local REIA yesterday that was hosting a meetup about how to get started as an invester. Felt really excited about going and potentially joining since I read there are benefits to joining a REIA because you can network and meet potential buyers, mentors. and or potential partners. I was let down by the end because of course they wanted to upsell me on a product to get started in 21 days by following some steps, I declined and left shortly after. The instructor also mentioned membership packages gold starting at $149 which included the product gold+ $199 including the product and mentor and so on. My question or concern is this how REIA's nomally work? Would I have to pay $100/more a month to be apart of an organization? Really need some advice here.

[Ray Slack]

Some REIA meetups are used as a source to get newbies in to upsell them on courses and mentoring programs and run mainly as a for-profit business. (Think infomercial), But most of the meetups are more or a non-profit philosophy just trying to cover the costs of the meetings and used for networking with a bit of education and a soft upsell usually on the services of the person speaking / educating the group.. For example someone comes in and explains 1031 exchanges and answers your questions about them.. Then at the end gives you their information about their 1031 facilitating services. So, if you want to use them in the future you have someone you're comfortable working with. You should never feel pressured to buy anything . I've heard really good things about the BWI / Baltimore meetups usually held around BWI airport and not such good things about PG county one.