Real Estate Investor Looking to Grow Knowledge

Real Estate Broker · Schaumburg, IL · Member since 2023 · 8 posts · 8 votes

Hello, I am a born and raised in the Chicagoland area and I just relocated back after some time abroad. I have been working in real estate since 2017 but I am looking to learn more from other investors about how I can turn real estate investing into my full time job anywhere in the world. If there is anything I can contribute or offer in exchange for some knowledge I am more than happy to chat and meet!

Thank you and best of luck with your real estate goals!

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Ashley Price
Lender · OK · Member since 2024 · 46 posts · 11 votes
1y
Are you looking for areas? I work with a lot of real estate investors I can tell you specific areas that have been booming.
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Ben Ratner
OP
Real Estate Broker · Schaumburg, IL · Member since 2023 · 8 posts · 8 votes
1y
I am in the Chicagoland area but I am working on expanding my knowledge in outside markets as well.
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Paul De Luca
Real Estate Agent · Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
1y
@Ben Ratner
What's your strategy for buying your first or next deal? My recommendation is to connect with a lender to get a sense of your financing options/budget and then you can reverse engineer your buy box & strategy.
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Ben Ratner
OP
Real Estate Broker · Schaumburg, IL · Member since 2023 · 8 posts · 8 votes
1y
Thank you for the contribution! I have been in communication with many lenders. I currently am a buy and hold investor but looking for into flipping as well as larger commercial spaces.
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Amit PatelBusiness Member
Property Manager · Bartlett, IL · Member since 2025 · 177 posts · 68 votes
1y

Hey there, welcome back to Chicagoland is awesome to hear you’re jumping back into real estate! With 30 years of investing in the IL suburbs under my belt, I’ve got some tips that really hope will be helpfull!
First off, you gotta find a property manager who’s rock-solid. I’m talking someone with a slick digital portal that lets you check tenant updates, rent payments, and maintenance stuff in real time. That way, you’re chilling halfway across the globe with zero stress.

Look for markets that spit out steady cash flow. Here in Cook and DuPage counties, rentals can pull 6-8% cap rates, which is solid. You can hunt for similar spots worldwide on BiggerPockets or by linking up with local investor groups wherever you’re eyeing.

Wanna lock in rent like clockwork? In Illinois, programs like Section 8 or RHSP are gold for guaranteed payments. Check if other markets you’re exploring have anything like that—it’s a game-changer for steady income.

Oh, and don’t sleep on networking! Swing by local meetups like the DuPage County one on August 20, 2025, or the Chicago REALTORS® Open House on August 6. Your global experience since 2017 will totally spark some great chats with other investors.

What’s your focus rentals, flips, or commercial? I’d love to swap stories
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Aaron ZimmermanBusiness Member
Accountant · Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
1y
Ben - welcome! If you're interested in coming to Chicago, there's a lot of great meetups. Chicago multifamily club, straight up Chicago investor sometimes puts on meetups, Windy City REI, etc. if interested in Chicago, I'd recommend listening to the straight up Chicago investor podcast as there's great resources for the city or suburbs.
[email protected]
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Mike FisherBusiness Member
New Lenox, IL · Member since 2024 · 141 posts · 72 votes
1y
Quote from @Ben Ratner:

Hello, I am a born and raised in the Chicagoland area and I just relocated back after some time abroad. I have been working in real estate since 2017 but I am looking to learn more from other investors about how I can turn real estate investing into my full time job anywhere in the world. If there is anything I can contribute or offer in exchange for some knowledge I am more than happy to chat and meet!

Thank you and best of luck with your real estate goals!

Hi Ben,
Welcome back to Chicagoland! It’s always great connecting with someone who has real estate experience and is looking to take it to the next level. I’ve been investing here in Illinois for years and also run a property management company, so I’ve seen both sides — the opportunities and the challenges that come with turning real estate into a full-time career.

Looking forward to learning more about your goals and seeing how we can help each other along the way.

[email protected]
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Jarret Jarvis
Real Estate Agent · Chicago · Member since 2021 · 178 posts · 64 votes
1y
Welcome back to Chicago! 🌆 That’s awesome that you’ve already got a real estate background and are now looking to pivot into full-time investing, that international perspective probably gives you a great edge on spotting opportunities others might miss.

A few quick thoughts as you make the transition:

• Chicago’s a great base for cash-flow properties while you build systems that can run remotely.

• Focus on mastering property management and deal analysis tech, that’s what makes investing “location independent.”

• Happy to connect anytime and swap notes or resources, always good to learn from someone who’s already been in the business since 2017.
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Account Closed
Investor · Toledo-MetroDetroit-Dallas · Member since 2022 · 122 posts · 71 votes
1y
Welcome back! With your experience, you’re in a great spot to take real estate full-time. If you want income you can manage from anywhere, look at turnkey rentals in strong Midwest markets, ones that are already renovated, rented, and managed. It’s an easy way to start building cash flow while scaling without getting stuck in day-to-day management.

Happy to share some examples or run through how out-of-state investing works for me and my investors if you’re interested.
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James Wise
Real Estate Broker · Cleveland Dayton Cincinnati Toledo Columbus & Akron, OH · Member since 2013 · 31k+ posts · 20k+ votes
1y
Quote from @Ben Ratner:

Hello, I am a born and raised in the Chicagoland area and I just relocated back after some time abroad. I have been working in real estate since 2017 but I am looking to learn more from other investors about how I can turn real estate investing into my full time job anywhere in the world. If there is anything I can contribute or offer in exchange for some knowledge I am more than happy to chat and meet!

Thank you and best of luck with your real estate goals!

Welcome aboard.
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