Hey from Spfld,MA

Hello everyone. I'm new to real estate and new to this forum. I am a very ambitious 24 year old who lives in Springfield , MA . I have my associates degree in business marketing and currently work full time at a fortune 100 insurance company. I have completed my real estate classes and plan to go for my license in the spring. I am very interested in the investment or "flipping" of homes. I have read "Your First Year in Real Estate: Making the Transition from Total Novice to Successful Professional" by Dirk Zeller and I have ordered Real Estate Investing for Dummies by Eric Tyson and Find It, Fix It, Flip It!: Make Millions in Real Estate--One House at a Time by Michael Corbett. I am very excited to learn as much as possible through these forums. Can't wait!

Looking for more book recomendations!!

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 04:30AM

Eric Foster

Real Estate Investor · Portland, Oregon

1,128 posts
3 awards
50 influence

Jan 10 '08, 06:14 AM

Hey Mike,

Well, I have some bad news for you... Investing in real estate, especially creative real estate investing will not work in Springfield, MA... Sorry to have to let you know that.

Hope you didn't believe that... Gotcha!

The reason I say that is because in your normal every day life when you tell people what you are wanting to do, you will hear a lot of that "it cant be done" attitude... Oddly enough, it is usually from people who have done between 0 and 3 real estate transactions in their entire life. 0 = they never tried 3 = they screwed up all three and never tried again!

I can tell you for personal experience... all of it can and does work! Listen to the people who do it, and say it can be done.

This is a great place to find info about all types of real estate investing... You will learn a lot here...

Welcome to the group! Glad to have you here!

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 04:30AM

Mike Novak

· Springfield, MA

6 posts
50 influence

Jan 10 '08, 07:08 AM

I've been doing a lot of reading on this site and I am very excited. My plan is to work as an agent for a while, build some capital and learn the market and then move on to investing from there.
What is the best way to become involved? How can I learn other than books and before going in on my own? I really would like to shadow an investor, but don't know any. Books seem like they are so broad sometimes. Any suggestions appreciated.

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 04:30AM

Eric Foster

Real Estate Investor · Portland, Oregon

1,128 posts
3 awards
50 influence

Jan 10 '08, 07:15 AM

Here on Bigger Pockets, there is a list of real estate investment clubs... I would suggest you go to some of the meetings...

As far as books, there are a ton of them... If you have an area of investing that interests you, you can then find the top speaker / teacher that in that subject.

Good luck.

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 04:30AM

Mike Novak

· Springfield, MA

6 posts
50 influence

Jan 10 '08, 11:00 PM

Originally posted by "EricFoster"

Here on Bigger Pockets, there is a list of real estate investment clubs... I would suggest you go to some of the meetings...

As far as books, there are a ton of them... If you have an area of investing that interests you, you can then find the top speaker / teacher that in that subject.

Good luck.

I don't really know what area. I guess I need to do some reading. I want to start out with little risk to learn the ropes. Residential foreclosed homes? I just purchased " The Pre-Foreclosure Property Investor's Kit: How to Make Money Buying Distressed Real Estate -- Before the Public Auction" by Thomas Lucier.

More book suggestions welcome.

I also made a profile. Thanks!

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 04:30AM

Joshua Dorkin

BiggerPockets Founder · Denver, Colorado

Donor Pro

11,044 posts
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Jan 11 '08, 12:21 AM

Welcome to the site, Mike and thanks for the book recommendations!

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 04:30AM

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Eric Foster

Real Estate Investor · Portland, Oregon

1,128 posts
3 awards
50 influence

Jan 11 '08, 06:31 AM

WesternMaMike...

Here is the link to the real estate investing clubs here on Bigger Pockets... It is from the links to the left of the page.

http://www.biggerpockets.com/real-estate-investment-clubs.html

Have a good one!

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 04:30AM