This has a lot to do with your location, building class, etc.

I have a lot to learn, but I'm pushing forward.  

It would seem that they have a lot to prove. 

Still have a lot to look at, but thanks for the suggestion.

You can sign up for these on a great website called Meetup.Financial Preparation:Evaluate Your Finances: Understand your current financial situation, including savings, credit score, and any potential sources of funding.Create a Budget: Establish a budget for your first investment.

An established organizer offered me a partnership and wants to give a friend 10% equity for scouting new locations.Questions:1.Would hiring a professional real estate agent be more efficient and beneficial than giving a friend 10% equity for this task?

It's an area where some struggle (especially in the beginning), but it's certainly overcomeable - and it's something that can definitely get easier when you get more established, learn how to advertise effectively and build up a buyers list.To put it as simply as possible, I'd say it's ultimately a matter of:Buying the right properties in the first place.Offering a compelling price point (which usually isn't hard, if you buy it right).Compiling the information well (with good images and descriptions).Getting your listing in front of as many eyeballs as possible (and keeping it visible).If you're able to, provide the option for seller financing, so buyers have more ways to buy your property if they're unable to get the cash from another source.Does that make sense?

I have a lot to learn and am excited to connect with people in/around Atlanta and across the country. 

Did a gut renovation on the 2 unit, refinanced to clear the lot of lien, and then used the equity in the lot to BUILD A GROUND UP SINGLE FAMILY house that sold for $1.1M.Then did a 1031 EXCHANGE for a 19 unit building in Cicero...Now building a Chicago General Contracting business because I love renovating and helping other real estate investors reach financial independence!

My idea was to establish myself with some paid-off, cash flowing properties to make leveraging them for more investments a lot easier.I'd like to flip some houses to generate some cash, but  even knowing what I know I'm struggling to see how to make money doing so.