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Hello, I’m retired and living in Southern California. Inland in Riverside county. Specifically Murrieta.

I became bored so began a Handyman business for myself about 2 years ago. I’ve done almost every aspect of handy work. From a complete conversion of a two car garage to a living room, kitchen, laundry. To ceramic tiling of an entire home. Also putting in faucets, toilets, dishwashers and showers.  You name it and I’ve done it.

Now I’d like to take my skills and ambition to the next level. I’m looking in to flipping homes. In stead of working on someone’s fix-it jobs I’d like to do that same work but for myself. Repairing and flipping properties.

My situation is that I have a fixed income so don’t have money to buy properties. I looked at flipping mobile homes but they’re priced pretty high too. But they can provide a nice profit when done correctly.

What I can offer is remodeling and building expertise along with quality work and ambition.

Com M. · Answer

@Jeff Driessen I am an OOS investor that lives in Murrieta, and have a lot of local contacts in the flipping business that both partner up or fund deals with other flippers.  I also go to several local meetups.  If you want any contacts, or meetups DM me I am always happy to talk REI with locals and attend several of these meetups myself even though my focus is out of state.

Jeff Driessen · Answer

Brandon L, thank you. I plan to study all the information you attached.

Just what I was looking for.

Jeff Driessen · Answer

Matthew G, thank you! My goal isn’t to turn as many properties as I can but to turn just a few per year. I now understand the importance of developing contacts and gaining information through real estate investment clubs and plan to attend some soon.  This is the type of information I hoped to get through this forum. Much appreciated

Jeff Driessen · Answer

Guy Olds, thank you! I appreciate your advice and will look into the meeting dates.

Guy Olds · Answer

@Jeff Driessen  I suggest you start networking with local people. There just happens to be a very good and active real estate investor club in Murrieta which is run by a hard money lender. It meets the 2nd Wednesday of every month. You can find the club on meetup.com. The club's name is TVREI or Temecula Valley REI.

You might also come up to the largest investor club in the inland empire which meets on the 4th Wednesday (just not in December). It meets at the Mission Inn in Riverside. Called Inland Empire Real Estate Investment Club also on meetup. I'm a member of this club.

Matthew G. · Answer

@Jeff Driessen Keep in mind that flipping isn't just about being able to rehab a home. You'll need to create a network to find deals, find funding, etc. If you are borrowing money, then you also need to consider speed when working on projects (holding costs will be expensive and being a one-man crew will only hurt you). Just because you can do a lot of the rehab on the home yourself, doesn't mean you should as an investor.

You could try attending the Inland Empire Real Estate Investment Club which has a monthly meetup. You could learn and network there. The guys who started the club are experienced flippers so you can probably learn a lot from them.

Brandon L. · Answer

Hello! @Jeff Driessen

Welcome to BP, and congratulations on making the decision to invest in your future via real estate.

I have written a few blog posts that may help you get started here on BP, and with your investing. Please click on the links, give them a read, and share your thoughts in the comments.

First is a post that I feel will help not get overwhelmed with the amount of info that is here on BP:

https://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/5868/52761-the-simple-guide-to-getting-started-on-bp

The second is a post that will help get you focused with your real estate investing goals:

https://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/5868/52743-im-new-to-bp-any-advice-would-be-appriciated

The last one is a post that will help you choose an “investor friendly” real estate agent.

There are many agents out there, but it’s important to choose the right one.

https://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/5868/52724-im-new-to-investing-how-do-i-find-an-investor-friendly-agent

I love answering questions if you have any! Good Luck :)

Jeff Driessen · Answer

I don't know much about hard money lenders or how to find them. Then once I do find one what to even ask or offer to them.

Like any industry I'd imagine there are good lenders and some not so good lenders. No doubt there are some who would have both of our best interest in mind and ones who'd only have their best interest in mind.

How would a newbie like me go about locating a good lender? Build a relationship. Like I mentioned I can offer a quality service and believe that is of value to someone out there. Should I talk to a Hard Lender company or search for an individual? Should it be a local investor or national?

George Blower · Answer

@Jeff Driessen

Welcome to Bigger Pockets. You have come to the right place to learn and to connect with others.

Aaron K. · Answer

It looks like you are looking for a partner to put up all the money which is tough to find because it would be all the same for that person to just hire the work done, in my opinion you may need to rethink the strategy to provide a more compelling value proposition