All Forum Posts by: Doug Merriott

Hi @Stacy E.,

Welcome to Bigger Pockets!!! This is a great community. 

As Paul mentioned you should definitely get out in the community when/if you visit. I regularly attend (when not trying to juggle 2 big kids and a new baby) several REIA and run my own on the first Sunday of the month.

I may be biased, but I don't think there is a better place to live than Clearwater. If you need any further information/neighborhood perspectives please feel free to reach out.

Warmest regards from Sunny Florida

I would recommend the most handsome one on Bigger Pockets. He has to run off to a meeting in a minute though.

no more than 20 minutes to the beach. Decent job opportunities. Constant warm weather. Relatively low prices. What's not to love?

@Arthur Pujols welcome to Bigger Pockets. You have made the right first steps to getting your investing started on the right foot. 

You make a good point Aaron. Should not have vacancies plus placement but always err on the side of caution.

looks okay from bird's eye view. Don't know where/why you are renting 3/2 so cheap at $950 even $1100.

give me a call. I can point you in a good direction.

...and you have a great REIA Meetup, right @Tyler S. ?

Congratulations my friend! I wish you smooth sailing and a comfortable education.

@Barbara Long Best of luck on your REIA, here are a few key tips from my experience:

1. Come from a place of contribution, the meeting is most successful when it is about people coming together to learn and grow

2. Do not use BP or Bigger Pockets in advertising your group. Just because you are a member does not mean you are affiliated with them and they do not want to be held liable for things you or your attendees may do or say.

3. An open format has worked very well for me. Encourage attendees to openly discuss their REI issues, hurdles and success.

4. Consider becoming a Pro or Plus BP member so that you can put an post in the Marketplace section to announce your upcoming meeting.

5. Use Meetup.com to post your meeting as well, with good keyword descriptions. This will hopefully bring in interested and excited people that will form the lifeblood of your group.

6. Remember Rule Number 1. The leader has to be an example for the meeting. 

The core of my group tends to be BP members but often we have people from Meetup and even people that wander in after seeing us on the library calendar. Some meetings we have 20, others 3. Don't be discouraged by low attendance, just know that you are doing service to your investing community.