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 )