Meetup is a fantastic app to find real estate meetings around you, and look for local REIA (real estate investor associations) and attend a bunch of meetings.

@Helena Goyvaerts I run the Michigan Real Estate Investors group and we have over 1200 members. 

It’s a longer-term game, though, with higher upfront costs.I’d say spend some time researching your target area and connecting with local investors or meetups—they’re goldmines for market insights and networking.

Quote from @John Rose: Hello all, new investor from Texas here. 

Hi BiggerPockets team,I am a rookie US real estate investor searching for financing options for my first deal.Personal ProfileCitizenship: IsraeliI do not have US citizenship or a long-term visa.Investment GoalsLong-term rentals in good B/B+ locationsLow-maintenance propertiesKansas City, MO/KS, or its suburbsI am familiar with what https://lendai.us is offering, but I am trying to find other alternatives.Thank you!

Here’s my perspective based on personal experience.For some context, I’ve been investing in real estate since 2019, primarily in Detroit, while living in California.

@Hiyun Park only experienced investors can DIY everything in Class C Midwest areas like Detroit, Cleveland, St Louis, etc.Hopefully the info below will help you:-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Recommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.Property Class will typically dictate the Class of tenant you get, which greatly IMPACTS rental income stability and property maintenance/damage by tenants.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a property in Class D area to Class A standards, what quality of tenant will you get?

So, when investing in areas they don’t really know, investors should research the different property Class submarkets.

An investor who is buying the duplex next to mine wants to trade a duplex he owns in a neighborhood nearby so he can have 2 duplexes next to each other (long story no need for those details). 

Quote from @Micheal Singleton: Hey stl folks, I'm a new investor .