Alternatively, if there is a real estate agent/ Agency that anyone recommends, please let me know.  

Hello everyone,My name is Chase, and I know that real estate is my road to investment for the future.

My father passed and his trust became irrevocable. 

We set up our infrastructure and are very organize and thorough, and through the year we made some significant progress and went on a learning phase to get better each day and closer to our first deal.As foreign investors we have to rely on hard money which gives a less edge, and face uncertainty with contractors not knowing real pricing and such.We are constantly on the look out for new investment opportunities.The problems we are facing right now is not knowing good contractors and the high competition on the MLS.We just started learning more about off market properties and sending direct mail.We would like to hear from your experience what should our next step be as newbie investors, and if there are some foreign investors here with tips.Thank you so much guys, best of luck to all! 

@Christopher Walrod if your personal situation allows you to house hack it can be a huge shortcut to becoming a real estate investor.

A good PMC can assist with all of that for a Placement Fee.NEVER trust a real estate agent to do your screenings, as they have a conflict of interest - they won't have to deal with any tenant issues once you pay them their commission.

I'm excited to be here and connect with like-minded individuals passionate about real estate.

Sounds like you're in great shape to dive into the real estate world.  

I am from North Idaho, and have been a licensed Real Estate agent for a year now.

Are you a successful real estate investor in or near Springfield, Illinois?