Mike Richardson Jr. - Trying to Learn as Much as I Can

Mike Richardson Jr. - Trying to Learn as Much as I Can

Annapolis, MD · Member since 2021 · 7 posts · 3 votes

BiggerPockets members,

Hi I’m Mike & I have some questions for you all to see how I can make the most of this forum, this site, books (I’m waiting on “How to Invest in Real Estate”) & my real estate life in general.

  1. 1. First aspect I’m interested in, I’m wondering what are the best real estate clubs/groups I can take part in around the area in Annapolis, or online.  That’s the best way I’ve seen to make connections with buyers, sellers, wholesalers, & agents.  A lot of whom want to help apparently.
  1. 2. Secondly, what are the other websites that have forums or are also amazing for real estate related topics?  I was just going to use Facebook & Reddit.  As one of my favorite things in the world is learning.
  1. 3. Thirdly, what should I do if I have a good number of questions to ask & I’m not sure if it’s too much without me paying to have someone like Brandon Turner answer them correctly (IMHO)?  Since I’m asking about what is the best idea to eventually accomplish the plan I have in regard to real estate in general.

Now here's a brief part of my plan: The first aspect of my career, outside of wholesaling & being an real estate agent (REA), if that's suggested by all, I'm going to build my own house with my own hands. This is with me sleeping there daily, learning from those I pay to do the work with me & friends that are in the renovation or construction industry. This is so I learn as much as I can with assistance. I am going to be renovating quite a lot with my bare hands until I'm able to own enough properties to never have to work again, but I am probably going to be doing all this work with some help as well (or at least at the beginning). This is in order to complete the renovations as fast as possible, so we (or I) can do well with the appraisal & then rent (BRRRR) since I am going to buy most property with hard money. What I am going to do is renovate, buy or build (RBB) multifamily homes around Annapolis & then also RBB houses in College Park to do college housing because I'm connected to the biggest landlord there, whom I know I can learn from.

Now I do have over a page written up with the different questions & how I’d like to be helped, but I’m not sure if I should post that all upfront since it might scare a lot of people away.

This part of my life is just at the learning phase, but all I want to do is learn what courses I should take, find if I should become a realtor & which certifications I should acquire to learn the most important information.  This is because I’m not sure if I need to become a REA or a wholesaler while I am making money in my fulltime cyber security job (because I feel like I should).

I’m wondering if there’s a way I should switch to become a fulltime wholesaler/REA to make the most money, get the most experience & make the most connections before I build my house or some sort of complex that I construct by myself.  I'm thinking I should just be a wholesaler/REA parttime instead of fulltime?  But I can do multiple fulltime jobs in the future if whomever allows me to work from home.  I’ve been learning a lot over the past 3-4 weeks since I’ve already written over 130 pages (most copy/paste edits) of notes related to what I’ve learned at BiggerPockets.

  • - Lastly, I’m wondering if I should contact or connect with people like: real estate investors, agents, wholesalers, contractors, construction companies, hard money lenders, cash buyers, title companies, landlords, multifamily owners, sellers, buyers, then people who can teach me & help me construct a whole complex or house?  This is what I am doing first unless some amazing deals just come by sooner rather than later that are impossible not to take advantage of.  If that's the best idea with all these types of people I’m wondering how I should connect with all of them?  I was thinking becoming part of as many real estate clubs as possible & starting there.

Your time is appreciated for reading this gargantuan motormouthing display,

Mike Richardson Jr.

Real Estate Noob

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Debbie FalesBusiness Member
Lender · Annapolis, MD · Member since 2018 · 141 posts · 47 votes
4y

Welcome to BP, Mike, and best of luck on your real estate investing journey. It sounds like you are in an information gathering phase which is the smart way to start. Have you considered joining a local real estate investors association like Baltimore REIA or MAREIA? They have lots of free resources and networking events that might help you get connected to potential partners and mentors. 

See this reply in the discussion

13 Replies

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  • Real Estate Broker · Forney, TX · Member since 2019 · 1k+ posts · 399 votes
    4y

    @Mike Richardson Jr., welcome to the BP community! Wishing you the best of luck

  • Julio GonzalezPro Member
    Specialist · West Palm Beach, FL · Member since 2008 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    4y

    Glad to have you on the forums, Mike! There is a great group of members on here to connect with. Welcome aboard and best of luck investing!



  • Justin WindhamPro Member
    Banker · Nationwide · Member since 2015 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    4y

    @Mike Richardson Jr.

    Welcome to Bigger Pockets!

    Make sure you check out all that this site has to offer.

    There are some pretty cool discounts on various products and services offered as Perks to BP members that you might want to check out: https://www.biggerpockets.com/perks/pro

    I really like the alerts feature that can quickly guide you to current topics that might interest you: http://www.biggerpockets.com/alerts

  • Debbie FalesBusiness Member
    Lender · Annapolis, MD · Member since 2018 · 141 posts · 47 votes
    4y

    Welcome to BP, Mike, and best of luck on your real estate investing journey. It sounds like you are in an information gathering phase which is the smart way to start. Have you considered joining a local real estate investors association like Baltimore REIA or MAREIA? They have lots of free resources and networking events that might help you get connected to potential partners and mentors. 

  • Ned CareyPro Member
    Moderator
    Investor · Baltimore, MD · Member since 2008 · 17k+ posts · 13k+ votes
    4y

    @Mike Richardson Jr. welcome to BP. There are a lot of members here from the greater dc Annapolis baltimore area. There is a small group that gets together in Annapolis run by Joe Child. https://www.meetup.com/RealEst...

  • Annapolis, MD · Member since 2021 · 7 posts · 3 votes
    4y
    Originally posted by @Debbie Fales:

    Welcome to BP, Mike, and best of luck on your real estate investing journey. It sounds like you are in an information gathering phase which is the smart way to start. Have you considered joining a local real estate investors association like Baltimore REIA or MAREIA? They have lots of free resources and networking events that might help you get connected to potential partners and mentors. 

    Oh thanks Debbie!  I was actually already thinking about joining MAREIA since I went to their site & I got this book for free:

    "HOW TO GET RICH 
    IN
    BALTIMORE/D.C. AREA
    REAL ESTATE"

    by Vena Jones-Cox (who's apparently a goddess..not like that's self-proclaimed or...)

    As I'm just starting out I'm wondering what the best ideas are with what I should do regarding those & other groups in the area.  Like I saw that MAREIA costed $ to join & I was planning on only going to places that are never trying to get money out of you.  So, all I'm wondering is if there are any groups that I could go to that are free, where I'll actually be able to meet people that are nice & smart as all of you!  I'm just extremely thankful a friend suggested this site, but I didn't realize I had so much to learn.

  • Annapolis, MD · Member since 2021 · 7 posts · 3 votes
    4y
    Originally posted by @Ned Carey:

    @Mike Richardson Jr. welcome to BP. There are a lot of members here from the greater dc Annapolis baltimore area. There is a small group that gets together in Annapolis run by Joe Child. https://www.meetup.com/RealEst...

    Ned, thanks for letting me know!  I'll use meetup to find some upcoming meetings & once I meet Joe I'll shed a little thanks to this guy I met on some weird real estate website...idk what it's called..maybe BiggerCaskets??

    My apologies for my ridiculousness, but I'm just wondering what I should do when I go there?  I know this is strange, but I've never gone to one & I would like to know the best way to ask questions about how to successfully implement the various plans I have.  That & also just to get to know people without me coming off like I really want money or whatever negative because all I'm trying to do is learn how I can learn the most about real estate & then help other people in the long-term.

  • Annapolis, MD · Member since 2021 · 7 posts · 3 votes
    4y

     &  thanks for the luck from both of you!...I'm going to need it.  The same goes to y'all as well.

     we'll see if I'll ever use those discounts since I am very cheap. Thanks for instructions for the alert feature, it's something I've been using since the beginning & I had to decrease the amount of places I was getting alerts from haha I was getting like 30 emails a day.

  • Ned CareyPro Member
    Moderator
    Investor · Baltimore, MD · Member since 2008 · 17k+ posts · 13k+ votes
    4y

    @Mike Richardson Jr. If you go to the Annapolis meeting you can mention my name to Joe Child who runs it. I have spoken at his group before. I am not 100% sure it is even a live meeting ye. Most clubs in the area are not yet meeting in person. It may be a virtual meeting.

    Just tell people you are new and want to learn. Don't pretend to be something you are not. Experienced investors can spot a new investor in about 30 seconds.Often as many as 1/2 of the people at meetings are there for the first time. so people will understand if you are new.

    Just ask questions. A million of them will come up. Your not going to get al of your questions answered but the goal is to start learning and building your network.

    PS I just got back from the BP convention in New Orleans. I took a tour of the city and we went to 5 graveyards. They are proud of their graveyards and their ghosts. So Bigger Caskets is sort of appropriate. 

  • Wale LawalBusiness Member
    Real Estate Broker · Houston | Dallas | Austin, TX · Member since 2018 · 5k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    4y

    @Mike Richardson Jr. Hi, Welcome to BiggerPockets, you are definitely in the right place. Just make sure to consume contents here as much as possible and feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are here to help each other grow.

    Goodluck

  • Greg JeanfreauPro Member
    Real Estate Agent · New Orleans, LA · Member since 2015 · 145 posts · 127 votes
    4y

    The saying is something like "You can tell how people treat others by the way they treat their dead." We treat them quite well. Also, the above ground tombs keep our family members from the water table and/or floating away in the case of a flood. Hopefully you were treated right here in NOLA and enjoyed it. 

    Originally posted by @Ned Carey:

    @Mike Richardson Jr. If you go to the Annapolis meeting you can mention my name to Joe Child who runs it. I have spoken at his group before. I am not 100% sure it is even a live meeting ye. Most clubs in the area are not yet meeting in person. It may be a virtual meeting.

    Just tell people you are new and want to learn. Don't pretend to be something you are not. Experienced investors can spot a new investor in about 30 seconds.Often as many as 1/2 of the people at meetings are there for the first time. so people will understand if you are new.

    Just ask questions. A million of them will come up. Your not going to get al of your questions answered but the goal is to start learning and building your network.

    PS I just got back from the BP convention in New Orleans. I took a tour of the city and we went to 5 graveyards. They are proud of their graveyards and their ghosts. So Bigger Caskets is sort of appropriate. 

  • Annapolis, MD · Member since 2021 · 7 posts · 3 votes
    4y
    Originally posted by @Ned Carey:

    @Mike Richardson Jr. If you go to the Annapolis meeting you can mention my name to Joe Child who runs it. I have spoken at his group before. I am not 100% sure it is even a live meeting ye. Most clubs in the area are not yet meeting in person. It may be a virtual meeting.

    Just tell people you are new and want to learn. Don't pretend to be something you are not. Experienced investors can spot a new investor in about 30 seconds.Often as many as 1/2 of the people at meetings are there for the first time. so people will understand if you are new.

    Just ask questions. A million of them will come up. Your not going to get al of your questions answered but the goal is to start learning and building your network.

    PS I just got back from the BP convention in New Orleans. I took a tour of the city and we went to 5 graveyards. They are proud of their graveyards and their ghosts. So Bigger Caskets is sort of appropriate. 

     I'm glad I received such a great pieces of advice from you Ned!  Thanks!  Now in terms of meetings being online, it's all good to me considering I kind of love how much work is actually able to be from home considering this way we won't keep making the earth have more greenhouse gases that are eventually going to turn Vermont into waterfront (unfortunately true, unless carbon sequestration picks up).

    I wasn't aware that there'd be other newbies as well at most meetings I attend, but it seems that I'll fit right in.  I just pray that I'll meet the right people there that'll help me follow through on my different exit strategies that I'd love to get prepared for by learning the most I can on how to prepare, execute & follow through successfully.

    Haha about their graveyards, but I'm glad you had a good time.  I'm hoping the the BP convention was phenomenal.  One day I'm hoping to go to a good amount of those.

    Now I just have some questions to run by you when you have the time, I'll be reaching out at some point but thanks once again.

    Your time is appreciated,

    Mike

  • Annapolis, MD · Member since 2021 · 7 posts · 3 votes
    4y
    Originally posted by @Wale Lawal:

    @Mike Richardson Jr. Hi, Welcome to BiggerPockets, you are definitely in the right place. Just make sure to consume contents here as much as possible and feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are here to help each other grow.

    Goodluck

    Sounds great to me!  Thanks for the suggestions, I appreciate them.  However, do you think I could reach out to you to see if I can run some plans by you?

    I'm just interested in what everyone thinks who is nice enough to reach out to someone who's so new to this.

    Your time is appreciated,

    Mike

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