Special situation, young future investor

[Danilo Perea]

Hey everyone,

I’m a very young (but legal age) aspiring investor from Miami. Within the next 8–12 months I’ll be receiving around half a million dollars, but not all at once — it will come in chunks (around 150k, 150k, 200k, etc.).

I’ve studied real estate heavily over the past months, so I understand the theory: financing, analyzing rental properties, cash flow, appreciation, deal structures, etc. The part I’m missing is real-world, hands-on experience. That’s what I want to build now so that when the funds arrive, I can actually put them to good use.

Right now, I’m attending networking events in Miami, but I feel a bit stuck:

• On one hand, I know networking is crucial.
• On the other, I don’t want to openly share with people that I’ll have significant capital soon. I worry that some might try to take advantage of me, or only see me as “money” rather than someone who wants to learn.

Do you think I should keep that private for now, or would being upfront actually help me make stronger connections faster?

I also realize I’d really benefit from a mentor — someone who’s been through the process and can help guide me as I step into the practical side. But again, I’m not sure how to approach potential mentors when right now I only bring knowledge and not much else.

From my research, I feel like smaller cities in Florida may offer better cash flow and appreciation opportunities than just focusing on Miami. But I’d love to hear your take:

• If you were in my shoes, how would you start building experience while waiting for the funds?
• Should I be more open about the capital I’ll soon have?
• How do you recommend finding a good mentor in this space?
• And what type of properties would you focus on first in Florida?

Any advice, stories, or even critical feedback is greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot!

Please tag me so I can see the post again ( my app is bugged )

[Drago Stanimirovic]

Danilo, you’re already ahead of the game just by asking these questions and doing the prep work now.

Keep the capital detail private for now. Focus instead on your hunger to learn, your knowledge, and the fact that you're actively preparing to invest. That earns respect, and keeps the wrong people at a distance. You’ll attract the right mentors by showing consistency, asking smart questions, and being genuinely helpful.

In terms of experience, consider shadowing a local investor, joining an active real estate meetup with a deal-analyzing focus, or even helping with due diligence or property tours. That builds hands-on understanding without needing to put money down yet.

Feel free to reach out anytime for advice or guidance. I’m always happy to help!