Really, coming on here, reading books on real estate, and joining some of the free webinars is what we have done so far.

Originally posted by @Don Spafford:@Randall Gonzalez I just now watched the Jerry Norton 10k webinar talking about it.

This would be 2 days before he announced in his June 20th email (which I believe you have) that he was suspending payments to hundreds of investors because of financial problems.He did not disclose anywhere in the webinar (48 hours before the email) the difficulties that his business was experiencing which was laid out in the email 2 days later.

I have been lurking on the site and attended webinars for a while but I am just here to learn and I am soaking it all up!

Free webinars, like Hospitable is hosting one in 2 weeks (Host to Host: A Short-Term Rental Mastermind). 

Stay consistent with follow-ups, sharing updates on new opportunities.Pro Tip: Host a webinar or in-person event to connect with potential lenders and answer their questions.Why It Works:Credibility and transparency make lenders more comfortable investing in your deals.What Do You Think?

I am wondering if my first steps (past the education part) is to build a network of people who know, like, and trust me through posting content like newsletters, articles, podcasts, doing webinars, going to events (aka build my brand), or, should I first find a deal and then raise capital?

Why don't you take a few months and attend a few of the BiggerPockets webinars hosted by Brandon, listen to some of the podcasts, and read a few of the recommended books.

Books like “The Millionaire Real Estate Investor” by Gary Keller, “Rich Dad Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyosaki, or “The Book on Rental Property Investing” by Brandon Turner can give you a solid foundation in REI strategies, including wholesaling.Most of the content offered in coaching programs can be found in books, free webinars, forums like BiggerPockets, and YouTube channels.

.## Additional Resources- Check out the BiggerPockets podcasts and webinars for more insights on these strategies.- Read books like "What Every Real Estate Investor Needs to Know About Cash Flow" by Frank Gallinelli to deepen your understanding of real estate investing.- Use local real estate agents who are familiar with investment properties to help you find the right deals.You're taking the right steps by seeking knowledge and networking.