Jeanerette, LA · Member since 2018 · 30 posts · 14 votes
Hello everyone!
I am a new "young gun" in the real estate investing world. I have not made any deals yet but I'm hoping that with the help of this site, I will have the confidence to make something happen. My fiance and I are both interested in pursuing this journey and hope to continue until gaining financial independence. I am in the south Louisiana area and am learning much about the real estate market here. If anyone local or familiar with the area (or anyone at all for that matter) would like to talk, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Realtor · Rocklin · Member since 2016 · 128 posts · 67 votes
7y
Hi @Bryan Dumesnil Glad you found BP! There's an unlimited wealth of knowledge to be found in these pages to help kickstart your journey!
A few words of advice for you...
If you haven't already, make it a priority to get out a local Real Estate Investors meet-up. Interacting face to face will help tremendously with forming those critical relationships to aid your progress. Experienced investors will want to help you if you show initiative, drive, and genuine interest. Focus on how you might be able to help them in their business!
Avoid the "shiny object syndrome" by narrowing down your niche as soon as possible. Be very specific about what you are looking for.
Use the BP calculators every day to run the numbers on prospective deals. With lots of practice you will be able to identify a good deal quickly and jump on it when the opportunity presents itself.
If you wish to tag someone in the conversation on the forum, type @ followed by their name and then select the name of that person which should appear below the comments box. He or she will be notified of being tagged so that the conversation will continue.
Investor · New Orleans, LA · Member since 2017 · 336 posts · 148 votes
7y
Welcome Bryan! I am a local investor and REIA owner. I believe we are about 2.5 hours away from each other but nonetheless, I agree with the suggestions above. A local investor meet up and the podcasts are huge! Jump on those and starting learning and networking! If I can help in any way, let me know. Thanks!
Investor · New Orleans, LA · Member since 2017 · 336 posts · 148 votes
7y
Welcome Bryan! I am a local investor and REIA owner. I believe we are about 2.5 hours away from each other but nonetheless, I agree with the suggestions above. A local investor meet up and the podcasts are huge! Jump on those and starting learning and networking! If I can help in any way, let me know. Best of luck in your ventures!
Jeanerette, LA · Member since 2018 · 30 posts · 14 votes
7y
Thank you all very much for the advice. I do know that there is an REIA in New Orleans but that is about a 2 hour drive from where I live. From what I understand, there are monthly (or maybe even more frequent) meetings and it would be extremely hard for me to make those with a full time job @Courtney Fricke. Do you think that it would still be beneficial to be a member of that REIA?
I believe I am on #20 of the podcasts and I think that those
Investor · New Orleans, LA · Member since 2017 · 336 posts · 148 votes
7y
Look on Meetup.com to see if investors are meeting closer to you. Ultimately something close to you is ideal, in my opinion. You could even start a meet up in your area if it is big enough and there isn't one. Great job on moving along on the podcasts!
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:
Fort Smith, AR · Member since 2018 · 122 posts · 70 votes
7y
@Bryan Dumesnil, I can't agree more with @Courtney Fricke and @Kim Stofan about going to the REIA meetings. I made it a decision to find one in my local area and did some googling, I found an event that was about 5 minutes from my house and went. I made some amazing connections there that night including a mortgage lender (who was *highly* recommended by everyone at the meeting), a realtor, and two construction/rehab companies who are also investors. It turned out that the meeting wasn't just for local investors but a combo of local investors and city planners including the mayor and several other city groups. Was very insightful on where growth in the city was being focused and where people were buying/selling/renting houses.
You said you and your fiancee were interested in REI, set a goal for yourself and make that a priority: "In X months, I will buy my first investment property" was mine and it has really helped put things in perspective and helped me focus on what I need to know RIGHT NOW and not everything else that is interesting (which is a TON).
Jeanerette, LA · Member since 2018 · 30 posts · 14 votes
7y
@Justin I am definitely going to research local investment meetings. I have always thought this was a good approach to learning but I did not want to travel the 2 hours to meet with the only REIA organization in the state. I will need to see if there may be some other organizations that are in closer range.
I like your idea of making a goal. My fiancee and I have clashing ideas of how we want to invest at this point. She currently wants to go all in on a property but I am being cautious by running numbers, getting quotes, etc. to make sure that the deal is worth it. I know each strategy has it's up's and down's but I believe setting a goal could maybe "force" us to make a decision but at the same time do it the right way. I am definitely going to speak with her about coming to an agreement on how we will approach this deal and any upcoming deals.
Investor · Scottsdale AZ · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 423 votes
7y
Great work, @Bryan Dumesnil. Thanks so much for reaching out in BiggerPockets. It's a good start towards getting deals done correctly. Congratulations and I wish you a ton of success.
Investor · Lafayette/Baton Rouge, LA · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 915 votes
7y
Go to meetup.com/bpacadiana to join the group for free and get notice of any meetings. They normally happen on the 3rd Monday of the month, which would have been tonight, but with Christmas right around the corner and the Saints on MNF, we did not meet this month. See you in January if you can make it.