Need help with marketing!

[Roberta James]

Hi Everyone! I'm looking to get started in 30 days (meaning getting and completing a deal). My confidence is strong, but my lacking in experience is holding me back. I know I can do this, but am not sure how to take a giant leap forward and get completely immersed. I'm in the Tampa FL area. What's the best steps I should take to get started with subject-to investing? Does direct mail really work? Also, how do I find sellers and buyers ... and structure a deal? Yup, I'm truly a beginner!!!

[Colin G Murphy]

Hi @Roberta James

The first step should be figure out your real estate goals. Do you want to be a wholesaler, flipper, landlord? Do you want you want to build a passive income stream or equity? Basically, what exactly would you like to have achieved in 1, 2 and 3 years?

Once you do that (and make sure you write them down on paper) then the next step is to work backwards from those goals and figure out what budget, property types, locations and purchase/resale/rental strategies will enable you to achieve them. 

Then you need to figure out how to target potential sellers that match this criteria and structure your marketing plan around that. Direct mail does work, but only when it is supported by well defined goals and target lists.  

Attending local REIA meetings would be a great place to ask experienced investors about how to find buyers, sellers and structure deals. Keep listening to podcasts, reading forums and reading recommended real estate books.

Good luck!