If they’ve been around for a while, the club organizers or others in the room will know them.

I mean, he probably wouldn't describe it that way, but that's what he was doing.It takes time to grow organically, and it is frustrating and painful at times.

After 6 months I have two properties and since day 1 they have been rented.However, making some numbers and organizing the 2025 budget I am not sure what to think about my first step on this journey.The rent covers the mortgages (10 year loan both) however I have to take out of my pocket some % to cover HOA and management fee.

It often takes new organizations similarly long times to get that sort of information.

It’s a smart move, especially since it ties in with your goal of saving for your first investment.For skills, you probably already have a good foundation with your sales experience—things like communication, organization, and dealing with clients are all super valuable.

If you can't find existing meetups, create your own by organizing casual gatherings for like-minded investors.

Pairing that with relationship-building will help you uncover off-market opportunities and find local experts who can guide you.For meetups, here are a few ideas:Indianapolis Real Estate Investors Association (Indy REIA): They have a mix of virtual and in-person events and are a good starting point for networking with other investors in the Indy market.Louisville Real Estate Investors Group (REIG): A similar organization for the Louisville market, with educational and networking opportunities.Check out BiggerPockets Meetups: Many cities have local meetups organized by investors active on BiggerPockets, and they often include virtual options.Facebook Groups: Look for local investing groups like "Indianapolis Real Estate Investors" or "Louisville REI."

I do not think they regulate this strictly on other industries like food service, or even medical.Sounds like the mayor or city planner or someone "important" had a bad stay at a STR somewhere.

It is possible that over time, Google ranking metrics recognize the uniqueness of your key words, and you move up in the rankings organically (without a cost to you), so that you can be found easily on Google searches for your location.  

Feel free to inquire about their staff qualifications if it's a larger organization.2.