Flipper/Rehabber · League City, TX · Member since 2017 · 144 posts · 66 votes
Hello BP Members of Great Falls, Montana,
I love to network. I love to hear people's stories. But I don't like reaching out to profiles on BP that don't actively get used. I just wanted to see who in Great Falls, MT, uses BP regularly? I am the kind of guy that just likes to meet up and have a brew in person from time to time. I've been seeing people flirt with the words "BiggerPockets Meet-Up" and would love to see that happen if even on an unofficial capacity.
@Corey Stubbs thanks for starting this thread up! I live in Helena and also have a few places in Great Falls. I would love be to meet up one of these days.
Hi everyone! I'm kinda late seeing all this but I would love to get some insights in the Great Falls market. Do you guys have any recommendations for lenders, agents, contractors, etc? I am a real newbie and am still looking for my first deal but haven't gotten myself to jump on an opportunity yet.
Welcome! You’re not late on anything, COVID has just slowed the party:)
My first question for you is are you considering investing into Great Falls because you live here locally? Or are you investing from outside Great Falls? Just curious.
Great Falls is a great Buy and Hold market. Between Great Falls and Butte you probably won’t find better profit margins if you’re new to investing in real estate and have little capital to start with.
I won’t go into recommending the whole branch of folks I trust to work with here, but I will definitely recommend one real estate agent, Adam Monroe. He’s been vital to my past investment properties and I’m fiercely loyal to him now. He’s creative and totally understands the investing mindset and comes up with some really out of the box answers to problems we’ve faced.
As far as recommending anything further and since you said you’re a newbie, I highly suggest the following:
1.) Know your “Why”. This will drive you on the days real estate can be difficult but pushes you to the goal you’ve set.
2.) Decide your focus and learn. You don’t want to try and attack in several directions and get no where. This will take a lot of educating yourself. BiggerPockets has a ton of resources that you can draw from.
3.) Find a Mentor. Find someone that has done what you want to do and listen to their highs and lows. Mentors also like to talk to people that have applied themselves in the 2nd step already mentioned, being decisive and learning that focus before grilling your mentor.
4.) Build your Network. The more people know what your looking for the better as they become the lead generation and influencers you’ll need in the future. 5.) Build your Team. This is last as you will want to learn where you’re going and who’ll you’ll need with you. Once you’ve educated yourself on your direction, and know what things to watch out for, you’ll want people to fill the roles you’ve realized you probably can’t do by yourself (real estate agents, lenders, title companies, contractors, etc.)
I’m long winded but I’m passionate about this subject. Please continue to reach out if you have questions and welcome to the fold! COVID has slowed my interaction with the outside world but I do want to do a local meet up soon.
Totally will do that! And I apologize, our family has been restricted a lot due to the COVID mess going on. We’ve never had it, but my job as a recruiter has required me to quarantine frequently off and on due to constant possible exposure. I just got off another restriction week yesterday. We will DEFINITELY be having a meet up soon to talk shop and make fun of this whole thing together! Have a great Monday!
Thank you for this insanely helpful response! I will refer to that for a long time. I have so many questions and would love to visit sometimes.
I am looking into the GF market because I live in Augusta currently. I really wanted to invest in Helena because I love Helena, but the numbers there don't seem to quite work out. I check zillow daily and it seems as if the rent in GF is still almost as expensive as in Helena, even though home prices are way lower. So it would only make sense to invest there. I've looked at some fixer uppers as well but am worried about finding reliable contractors who get the work done in a timely manner.
I am planning on living in the Helena area in the future, so that isn't too far away from GF . Maybe one day I have more money to buy in the market there, but I think GF would be a good start.
@Corey Stubbs thanks for starting this thread up! I live in Helena and also have a few places in Great Falls. I would love be to meet up one of these days.
@Theresa Reynolds, I hope it can help. My wife and I have had a very interesting (some would say harder than it needed to be) journey, but we love to share the good and the bad as it all is stuff to learn from. Please come out to Great Falls sometime to meet us. Side note, I went to Augusta in 2007 to attend the Montana Wilderness School of the Bible so I’m no stranger to that side of the world and would love to hear how families are doing out there.
@Cheyenne Welsh, I will definitely be sure to send an invite your way when we hold a meet up in Great Falls! I’ve been asked by a lot of Helena members to try and link up and start a meet up there too. I’ve been tossing around the idea of holding a meet up at the broad water hot springs there since they’ve great a pretty good set up for that and it’s just fun! We’ll see! Until then thanks for reaching out!
Hey I know everyone might be busy, but I would be down to set up a time for a meet up here in Great Falls. Sounds like we have enough interest to nail down a time and date!!! Let’s do this and get this started!
We have a group that meets monthly in Helena. Typically the last Wednesday of every month. Let me know if anyone is interested. Can search for Helena real estate investor meetup on Facebook or meetup. We are seeing similar high prices in Helena.
Hello Everyone, just read through your chat over the last few months. I just closed on my first deal and am actively renting it out now here in Great Falls. I have lived here for a large portion of my life. My wife is also a local real estate agent for Dascoulias Reality Group. I know Pete and he’s helped my wife and I along our journey. We would love to join you at MT Pints if that is ok. Have a great day.
Not sure I can make this day work as I am usually gone on the weekends. However, I will see if I can make the next one work, so please keep me in the loop!
Just a quick update. I got done talking with Travis, the manager at MT Pints, to give him the heads up that we’d be coming and to reserve a table. We are good to go he just asked I remind everyone to please respect house rules and please enter with a mask and if you must wander anywhere to please wear the mask. Otherwise he’s super excited to have us come out and use his venue. I told him I’d share that with the group. See you soon!
Just a reminder, tomorrow I have a table reserved for us at MT Pints to meet and share stories. If you can send me a confirmation that you are coming and if you’re bringing another person with you, that would be helpful. Just making sure we have enough table space for everyone. See you tomorrow!
When: 6pm, 14NOV2020
Where: MT Pints, 215 Third St NW, Great Falls, MT 59404