REI Associations

[Frank Matanane]

Not looking for any bashing or pushing but honest opinions of various REIAs in Washington (King,Pierce,Kitsap,Counties). Perhaps just a simple note on your positive experiences with any organization.

I am leaning towards REAPS solely since they are in my back yard. However, I would like to here the benefits of others. 

Thanks

[Troy Fisher]

Originally posted by @Frank Matanane:

Not looking for any bashing or pushing but honest opinions of various REIAs in Washington (King,Pierce,Kitsap,Counties). Perhaps just a simple note on your positive experiences with any organization.

I am leaning towards REAPS solely since they are in my back yard. However, I would like to here the benefits of others. 

Thanks

Hey Frank, I don't recall if we had the opportunity to chat about it at Lakewood on Monday, but here's my generic overall take: Being a member of all the REIA's and networking is about the effort that you put into it, you are going to take out of it. It really doesn't matter which one.

REAPS the major networking really occurs before or in the early part of their main meeting in Bellevue, then they move on to the speakers and yadda-yadda.  Their Satellite meetups have a lot of value, because it is a smaller group and you can make quality connections.  While they still have speakers, you can usually create a dialogue with the speaker about the topic and get a little more detailed.  I've heard good things about REIA Wa, but have not made it to any of their meetups.  If you look on meetup.com theres a bunch of more focused meetups: NOTES, LANDLORDING, Niche Markets, and so forth, there's usually some value in going to those to meet with individuals. 

But, I'm prejudiced, our PacificNW Real Estate Meetups, I think are hand's down the best. On Friday Night we had our last meetup in Bellevue, and hearing from everyone about the connections and DEALS that they are doing because of that single meetup that has been going for 4 months now is explosive! We don't do speakers, we don't do learning, we do socializing, and we encourage people to connect and learn about what they want.  Someone in the room has done it. And is doing it well. 

Again, it really doesn't matter which ones you go to. There are movers and shakers at all these events, people willing to share, and talk, network, and partner!  It's you that is the driver of what you get out of each event.