Brand New and Need Direction HELP!

[Feras Majeed]

Hello, bigger pockets, community,

I'm currently an educator in the Chicagoland area and discovered bigger pockets. I have been addicted ever since! I want to connect with other people in the area who would like to work with me or mentor me with real estate investing! 

Some background on me. I have been in education for over 8 years as a Middle School ELA teacher, reading teacher/reading interventionist, program leader/Literacy coach, and now a Multilingual Team Leader overseeing a team of bilingual teachers and over 300 Multilingual students. I love my job, but it doesn't define me. Real estate investing and being financially free is my ultimate goal. I feel money will bring me freedom and the ability to help the people around me. It will also allow me to make choices about how I want to live and spend my time. 

Where do I start! I want to do multifamily and/or storage but I know all of this needs so much money that I don't have. Any mentors out there that can take me under their wing near Chicago??

[Julio Gonzalez]

Hi Feras, welcome to the community! There is a great group of members on here to connect with.

Hope you find what you're looking for here!

[Justin Windham]

@Feras Majeed

Welcome to the BP!

This is a great forum with very knowledgeable members that will help to guide you in the right direction.

The site has quite a few tools that can be helpful for new members. For example, if you are looking to connect with other members near you, want to learn from people in a specific area you’d like to invest in, or have a desire to find people interested in certain topics, you could use the search feature here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/search/users

[Edgar Barbosa]

@Feras Majeed hello and welcome!! Super exciting to have you be part of the BP community! I could tell you that you are more than capable of accomplishing everything you mentioned. I'm a Chicago native and real estate investor/agent. The more you network the more opportunities that open up. I know of two teachers turned real estate investors. They will have much more specific knowledge to your situation. I suggest getting on Facebook and reaching out to local Chicago investor groups. Let me know if I could send you more information. Best of luck!

[Paul De Luca]

@Feras Majeed

Welcome to BP! To start I recommend you listen to the BiggerPockets podcast, read the books they've published, and come up with a strategy & plan. Once you've defined what you want and how you intend to get there, start taking action by connecting with agents, lenders, attorneys, etc. If you're looking for a mentor, you'll want to bring something to the table to help out your mentor.

[Jonathan Klemm]

Yo @Feras Majeed - The BiggerPockets and real estate addiction can be a real problem lol - Definitely worse things to be addicted to.  Where do you start?  Awesome question.....my go-to answer is:

1.  Educate & learn (BiggerPockets forums, podcast, books, Straight up Chicago podcast -> https://www.straightupchicagoi...)

2. Network like crazy (BP forums, meetups, etc.)

3. Take action / be decisive (The quickest way to get ahead is to get started)

Feel free to reach out.  Happy to connect to see how we can help and get you going!

[Eudith Vacio]

Hi @Feras Majeed - welcome :) 

It sounds like you have a lot of experience in education and investing in real estate involves exactly that, and also networking with others. I think multi-family would be a more feasible choice in Chicago as storage can get pretty pricey. Open to chat if you have more specific questions!

[Feras Majeed]

Thank you everyone! I have 0 idea what to do but my vision is clear: I want to have rental properties that create passive income for me so I can have more freedom and be able to create long-term wealth. If there is someone that is already doing this or an expert, I wouldn't mind collaborating with no pay so I can learn what needs to be done. I have minimal money and my credit isn't great however I did buy my first home in August 2020 which I'm currently living in so I know how just buying one residential home is a pain..I couldn't imagine something for investing. 

[Jordan Catapano]

Hey Feras - welcome to the community! Where exactly are you in the Chicagoland area? I'm also an educator in the NW suburbs and am seeking to expand my real estate holdings this year. Hope you're enjoying summer vacation already. 

I'd be interested in connecting further. I'm no expert, but am always looking to connect and share with others what I do know. 

[Feras Majeed]

Jordan, I'm in Tinley Park. I'm going to start a new position in Downers Grove. You?

[Jordan Catapano]

I live in Bloomingdale - not too far from Downers!

[Aimee Derylo]

I'm actually in Downers Grove too! Just getting started over here, but have been in real estate for the past 11 years.  I've never found another wealth builder quite like real estate investing. 

[John Warren]

@Feras Majeed congrats on making a move! I also was a teacher for 11 years, and I totally agree that it can be rewarding... just not financially. You will always look back on those days with pride and be happy about the people you helped. 

As you look at real estate, I would recommend that you absorb all the free content that is out here on podcasts. The BP podcast helped me a lot early on, and I also listen to a half dozen other podcasts as well. I also think meetups are the way to go as you can meet many, many people who are also getting after it. I have met most of my business partners through meetups, I have met vendors who became part of my team, and I also have met a lot of lifelong friends there. 

[Feras Majeed]

Quote from @John Warren:

@Feras Majeed congrats on making a move! I also was a teacher for 11 years, and I totally agree that it can be rewarding... just not financially. You will always look back on those days with pride and be happy about the people you helped. 

As you look at real estate, I would recommend that you absorb all the free content that is out here on podcasts. The BP podcast helped me a lot early on, and I also listen to a half dozen other podcasts as well. I also think meetups are the way to go as you can meet many, many people who are also getting after it. I have met most of my business partners through meetups, I have met vendors who became part of my team, and I also have met a lot of lifelong friends there. 

That's amazing to hear! Thank you for the advice. That's what I'm having a hard time. There's a lot of people with great advice and offering some amazing opportunities but I'm kind of skeptical and wondering if you felt the same way when you first started and/or joined bigger pockets. 

[John Warren]

@Feras Majeed you should always be skeptical if anything sounds like a get rich quick scheme, but most of the folks on here are doing things the right way. The transition into RE will be challenging like anythign else, but the rewards are there if you put in the work!