Hi Everyone,

I've been registered on BiggerPockets for a few months now, but haven't really had a chance to get active.  I'm looking to purchase buy, hold and rent single family and multi-family properties in the Chicagoland (IL) and Milwaukee (WI) areas.  My first property was my primary residence in Chicago, and I'm hoping to make another purchase by the end of the year.  I've been searching for a few months now, but have not had much luck in this market.  Bidding wars are routine and it seems like the good deals come and go within days.

I'm looking for a couple of things:

1.  Suggestions on how a new investor can start marketing for exposure to deals and contacts?

2.  Networking in Chicago - where/how did you find a reliable contractor/handyman/other key players?  I'm also interested in meeting experienced investors that would be interested in working together on future investments.

A little about myself:

I moved from Florida to Chicago about 7 years ago and currently work in Finance at an investment bank downtown.  I recently received my Illinois Real Estate License and am sponsored by a local brokerage.  I've had a passion for real estate for quite some time now and am itching to get a deal done this year.  Given that this is my first investment property (outside of my primary residence), I'm looking to start small to get some experience with the process and taking on the role of landlord.  I hope to become more aggressive after that.

Looking forward to meeting you all and appreciate the feedback in advance.

Best,

Ankit