Have read many books and attended seminars and dabbled, but finally ready to make my first investment. 

If done this way, the investor could use this as a powerful tax strategy to spread the taxable event over years, lowering the effective tax rate faced from the taxable events.I have heard professionals compare it to an installment agreement, but with more control.

Hi Everybody,I am interested in attending some real estate meetups/networking events in the Chicago area.

They are always publicly posted on our website, in the events here on Bigger Pockets, and on Instagram.Look for Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing in the events for NJ here.

If you arent already attending the local REI meetups, I recommend doing so.

There may also be costs associated with setting up the accounting for the shells, and preparing inital shell formation meeting minutes, etc...You will also need separate bank accounts, and a war chest of money to defend them if/when needed.Ask your asset protection attorney vs salesperson for a quote on the cost to defend, and how much it will cost to move title to the shells.Find out if moving the title creates a taxable event for you with the IRS re.

I was just in Dallas last weekend for a speaking event. 

If you download the meetup app on your phone and join the group you can attend a meeting. 

I am attending my first BPCON.

You can meet local investors by registering to attend real estate events in your area: https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/521-events-and-happenings6.