BiggerPockets

Some gurus may tell you that you have to have your " team" in place before investing. I disagree. To each his own, I guess.

You can build your team as you invest. As you look for properties you may contact some realtors. Meet them, decide who you like and feel you can work with. You will want to be pre approved for a loan, either conventional or hard money. To do that you will talk with several lenders. Once you have a property you are interested in you may need to find a closing attorney. In some cases the seller or lender may have a preference that is stipulated in the contract. Who do you have insurance with now? Do they offer the type coverage you will need? If not, ask them who they recommend.

Once you have one member of your " team" ask them who they recommend for other professional services you require. I talked to several realtors when I was looking at properties to learn the market. I asked each one what builders , lenders, closing attorneys, etc. they would recommend. You will get a lot of leads and go from there.

Just because you haven't interviewed and decided on who will fill each role in your real estate investing team doesn't mean you can't buy a property. Many use that as an excuse not to do anything else. Pick a property, do your research and get started. If your realtor, lender, insurance agent, etc. doesn't turn out to be the best for you then get another one!

Best of luck!

I agree that you only need to find the team members once you need them, but with one exception....

I believe you need to find a great mortgage guy that specializes in investment property. This is the expert that will make or break the deal most of the time. Plus if you don't have your financing in place when you are making offers, you are running the risk of losing the property or even worse, losing your earnest money.

Once you find the mortgage guy, have him lead you to other team members.

Funding will kill you everytime! And with all the mortgage issues going on right now, most smart Realtors are being more strict about seeing pre-approvals or verification of funds up front.

to me, your post is the mother of all posts because of the topic. it's basic and it hits home, big time.

i can't tell you how many people i've met and said to myself, " how the hell did this guy do all this - he's a half-wit!" meanwhile, he's driving a vet and is so carefree - i say to myself - " how the hell did he do this?"

the bottom line (and this is not gender specific - it's just an expression) - BALLS.

at the end of the day - it takes BALLS to step outside the box, whether you're going to be a real estate investor or just do something that takes RISK.

RISK of money, if you put it in perspective of LIFE. at the end of the day you'll find that that is the least of your worries.

RISK of life - like physically, really puts things in perspective on a grand scale - that's serious business.

RISK of spirituality, the most important. when you sit around and don't take RISKS, you RISK destroying what is the ultimate gift - your spirit.

there's nothing like seeing a person without hope - it hurts, even when it's a total stranger. when it's a family member or close friend - it can make you cry like a baby. and when it's you, it's frustrating as hell!

so, i say to you - go out and do what you want. if you think in your mind that what you're doing is a good thing - then do it. if what you're going to do is going to rip someone off or if you wouldn't want it done to you - DON'T DO IT!

TAKE BABY STEPS. but hell, you can make them bold - WHO CARES ABOUT TALKING TO " busy" REALTORS??!!

let me tell you something - a realtor never wants to piss anyone off. some think their sh*t doesn't stink, but you don't have to start at the very top with a realtor who's closing 30 million dollar deals -

you see a sign, call on it. use google and type in different stuff like locations and then follow up with " real estate" .

GO TO OPEN HOUSES. find those handyman specials and call the realtor on them, see if he can help you out. who cares. dump the feelings that keep you from moving forward. that's probably the single most important step you'll take.

forget fear of embarrassment or loss of money (to an extent of course).

there's dudes (and dudettes) that are walking the streets in Bagdad, a bazillion miles from home on Christmas Eve with their LIFE at RISK.

and here's my last tip - a good realtor will have referrals for attorney's and don't sweat a title company so much - although they can be like NIGHT AND DAY - just ask around and see who comes HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. usually the cream rises to the top and aren't hard to find.

contractors - please - dime a dozen. f*ck it - walk onto a job site and ask around. just say, " hey i'm looking for a plumber. got a card. i'm doin a job on the other side of town. big f**kin house. i'm moving on soon and i want a new guy."

be sure to use the obscenity. :D

HAVE FUN. what do you have to fear?....think about it...