Joining a local real estate investment association can be a great way to educate yourself and network with other investors in your area. These groups often hold meetings, classes, and provide access to deals that individual investors may not be able to find on their own. When looking for a real estate investment association near you, it’s important to find one that aligns with your investing goals and strategy.
Check their membership base and offerings to see if it meets your needs
Some associations cater more towards fix-and-flip investors, while others focus on long-term buy-and-hold strategies. See what kinds of educational offerings they provide through meetings, classes, online forums etc. Also look at their membership base – are these the kinds of investors you want to network with? The right association for you depends on your investing niche and goals.
Make sure the association provides legitimate investment opportunities
A benefit of these groups is that they often showcase vetted real estate deals to members before making them available to the general public. However, you’ll want to do your own due diligence to verify the quality of any deals promoted. Make sure the association has a track record of facilitating solid opportunities, not just hyping up every deal out there.
Look for groups that focus specifically on your local area
The best associations will have extensive knowledge of the real estate market conditions, trends, and opportunities within the specific area you want to invest in. This localized insight and access is much more valuable than generalized groups that try to service too broad of an area.
Make use of free trial periods to test out the group
Most associations will let you attend a few meetings or access some resources before becoming a dues-paying member. Take advantage of these trial periods to get a feel for the group’s culture, membership base, and ability to provide value. Don’t commit to paying membership fees until you’ve verified it’s the right fit.
Joining the right local real estate investment association can accelerate your investing education and provide access to better deals. But make sure to vet any group thoroughly before becoming a member or pursuing the opportunities they promote.