Good REIA in Northern VA?

Question

I'm starting out in REI and am looking for a good REIA in northern VA. I've read about how essential REIAs can be to an investor, but I've also read about how they are often nothing more than platforms for gurus.

Can anybody from the metro area provide suggestions for local REIAs that focus on investing in Virginia and are geared toward educating the members, not selling them?

Thanks for the help,

Travis

Alan Taylor · Answer

For anyone who is wondering if CAZA still exists, the answer is YES! They re-branded as GRID:

https://www.meetup.com/grid-reston/

From their site on Meetup:

Grid (formerly known as CAZA Investor Network) started in 2007 with less than 10 people and has since grown to over 10,000 members in 12+ locations in 3 states.

We believe the networking, education and inspiration you need to become a real estate investing pro is best found at the local level – which means that you need local knowledge, local contacts and local resources to help you grow.

Grid represents who we are (a power network) and what we do:

G: grow (your database)

R: return (on relationships)

I: invest (in people and assets)

D: develop (leadership and expertise)

Each Chapter is run by active and experienced real estate entrepreneurs who are doing deals in their area and who have joined Grid to share their stories, facilitate conversations, nurture relationships, and create more business opportunities for everyone in the room.

We welcome real estate entrepreneurs of all experience levels to join us in the endeavor to build and expand your reach, knowledge-base, business, and potential.

See you out there!

Grid Reston

Rob and Mark

Jessica Swingle · Answer

No dues, no membership. It's free.

I can't make the meeting in December - let me know how it goes!

Travis Geary · Answer

@Brian Cavaliere thanks for the information. I've taken your advice, and I'm continuing to network here on BP, as well as eat up as much material as I can get my hands on. I've already made some great connections.

@Jessica Swingle thanks for the info on CAZA. I'll check out their group and see about attending during the December meeting. It sounds like the type of group I'm looking for to get into the game. Do you know how much their dues are?

Jessica Swingle · Answer

Also, I've attended one of the Traction REIA Saturday events (Michael Blank, Multifamily) and found it to be full of valuable content. Michael is the real deal and he brought a lot of local experience to the table.

That said, I'm sure it depends on the speaker.

I would definitely consider additional workshops in the future, however, in regards to the monthly meetings...I really like Tom & Carolina personally, but the meetings can be very sales-y.

Jessica Swingle · Answer

@Travis Geary

Hi Travis. I can vouch for CAZA Meetup. Rob & Mark are awesome. Every time I go I learn something new and there are NO sales pitches. Just content & networking.

Quality group of people.

They meet at the Reston KW office (although it's not a KW thing), 1st Tuesday of the month.

Brian C. · Answer

Hi Travis,

I joined Traction REIA over the summer. It has both elements. The meetings are divided up into networking, local market updates, and whichever topic of the night is. Usually it is a lead in for a whole day Saturday class that weekend with a guest speaker that you have to pay for. Usually they are not very expensive (~$50). If you are not a member and would like to go to a meeting it is $20. If you sign up for membership they'll credit that $20 towards membership. I pay $200 for the year.

IMHO I would try and network here as best you can first, then try Traction. They definitely have benefits, especially if you have a property to sell they have time devoted to investors looking to sell their properties but unless you're an extremely outgoing person it can be a bit intimidating because so many people go to the meetings.

Travis Geary · Answer

Thanks for the recommendations; I'll definitely look into these two.

Just out of curiosity, did you find Traction REIA to be more geared toward selling or education?

Earl G. · Answer

Traction REIA is pretty good, they usually meet in tysons corner.

I have also heard that CAZA REIA is ok also, I think they meet in Reston. I havent attended a meeting there yet. You can find them on meetup

Good REIA in Northern VA?

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