New to Real Estate · Lafayette, LA · Member since 2018 · 6 posts · 2 votes
I recently attended a free two hour class, which I then signed up for a three day seminar, during the class (cost me $200). The seminar is to teach you about all the avenues of real estate. I signed up in hopes to get an in-depth crash course on how/where to start in a field which catches my interest. I’m a bit nervous they’ll scratch the surface just a little deeper to make my $200 worth it, but ask for more money to give me an even more in-depth course at a later time.
Has anyone ever attended one of these seminars?
I don’t have any investments. Just getting started.
Audible, $15.00 month(one free book per month) PB has some great books out.
Bigger Pockets, Free
Podcast, Free
Mentors, Free
YouTube, Free
Learning curve, Priceless
Google, Free
There is way too much free info out there to be spending money(BP has free seminars all the time) on get rich quick seminars. This how I learned and it has worked very well. IMHO Finding the deal seems to be the toughest part of the game right now.
I picked up on the tactics at the free 2 hr seminar and had a feeling I wouldn’t be given all the info I needed, but at least give me a starting point...hopefully.
@Joshua Thibeaux I feel like most of these workshops only scratch the surface, and/or are trying to hook you into paying for a more expensive class or coaching. I read a couple books, and researched on my own. The most valuable thing you can do is offer someone who is successful in your market $100 and buy them lunch! After the free lunch they may not even take your $100. There are those who actually know how, and others who teach how. I have flipped 40 properties, and never attended a class.
Please take the advice offered by the posters in this thread. I agree with all of them!
I would also like to add that I have never met a really wealthy successful RE investor that got there from a paid guru program, not to say they hadn't attended them at some early point in their career, just wasn't the guru that got them their.
BUT, every successful RE investor I have ever met or know, did work very hard/smart, did network, did read lots and ask lots of questions, did seek out advice of more experienced vetted pro's, did make sacrifices, did take calculated risks, did have high levels of motivation, did understand business, did understand credit and financing, etc....
The seminars and gurus give the illusion of delivering these "dids"...but in IMHO they don't
A 3 day class such as you describe can be useful in that it may serve to stimulate your thinking.
Know this, however: The usual "seminar guru" formula is essentially the same as it was 30+ years ago: draw them in to a class that is more conceptual/introductory in nature as opposed to true, genuinely substantive "nuts and bolts", and then upsell them.
IMO, the only time it makes sense to enroll in a backend course or "mentorship" program is IF the course/instruction is COMPLETE and the help that you'll need is readily accessible-- meaning that you're able to get the answers to questions that pop up as you go along and get deeper and deeper into things.
You can do extensive reading about note investing, or any subject for that matter, but it's only conceptual until you actually get out and do it. A fair # of people on these BP forums are seemingly able to take that first step, or get a good start after reading/interacting through this site.
Having said that, if you're like me, concepts don't really "sink in" or get internalized until you have an actual potential "deal" or transaction to check out or pursue and you've got to execute the steps and do things that you don't yet know how to.
In my experience, many people have trouble or get tripped up at certain points along the continuum. That's where it may pay to have someone with experience to consult with-- one question/step at a time, generally speaking. That's how I got my start in this business 22+ years ago. I find that credible mentors like I had are really hard to find these days, so I consider myself fortunate.
The big key is finding the right person, course, mentor, etc. who will give you a GOOD "bang for buck" along with SUBSTANTIVE direction that you can use WHEN you need it. (And, if we're talking about $ THOUSANDS of "bucks", run-- don't walk-- away from this person.)
If you ever have the chance to attend seminars or talks by any of these teachers, they are fairly priced and highly regarded:
Gary Johnston
Clyde Wilson (teaches with Gary)
John Schaub
Peter Fortunato (maybe not for a beginner)
Also, the "Masters of Real Estate" conference will be held again this November (2020) in Las Vegas. Speakers not yet announced but should include some of those above.