All Forum Posts by: Michael Wintermyer

Thank you everyone for your feedback! @Bjorik Mutize @Josh Cook @Michael Dang @Dan H.

I did get Google Voice and a separate Gmail account and they both are exactly what I was looking for!

Hello BP!

As I'm researching different markets to find the right one to invest in, it is looking like one out of state will fit best. I know how important it is to build a great team (can be a make or break), so I'm curious how others went about doing so.

I am starting to attend different REI meet ups in my area in order to network but what suggestions would someone have to network out of state without having any "boots on the ground" in that area?

If it helps, a few out of state markets that have been of interest include: 

-Knoxville, TN 

-Dallas/Fort Worth, TX

-Raleigh/Durham, NC 

-Atlanta, GA

One market that is within the 2-3 hour drive from where I am located (Frederick, MD) is: 

-Northern VA

Any suggestions are appreciated.

@Anthony Dashawn Thurman being in a similar situation as you, utilizing the resources mentioned above (podcast, networking events, BP, etc.) will be very valuable. Determining what real estate strategy will aligns with your goals will help focus your research/networking and allow you to be more efficient in doing so.

@Joe Splitrock very helpful feedback! I have seen my fair share of those with a "smoke in mirrors" business while in business school and can't agree with you more on that.  

I know personally, I usually don't like to answer my personal phone if a random number calls unless I am expecting a call because telemarketers and my personal email fills up so quickly with marketing email daily, so for me a free service like Google Voice and Gmail account to separate my REI and personal life makes sense. I was able to create each this afternoon and it took a total of 10 minutes to have them both set up.

As you said, I wont be making a website or any business social media accounts, well until I have a business. I did however order 500 very plain and simple business cards through Vista Print for only $10. I see the value in having a card to hand out no matter what the situation, especially for that price. On these I included:

• Name
• Investment Strategy (Rental Properties)
• Phone Number
• Email

@James Rey Thank you for the post! I am from Frederick, MD and just start joining REI groups around the area to start attending events. With multi family as my focus, this group be very helpful. I look forward to joining and attending future events.

@Geoff Kidder Thank you, this is very helpful! 

@Geoff Kidder that is very helpful, thank you. I will do a little more research on Google Voice (does it allow only calls or texting as well, etc.). For your website and the domain you use, was it through something like Wix or what is your suggestion for me to get my website created? 

I am new in real estate investing and am currently in the phase of getting educated and networking to make the right connections. My goal is to have my first investment property before the end of the year. As I am starting to go to network events and reaching out to different parties (realtors, financial institutions, investors, legal entities, etc.) I am curious to see what peoples thoughts are about getting a separate phone line and email address at this stage. These would be to put on business cards to hand out while networking and making connections, provide to others as a way to contact me, place on social accounts/website but also to separate "business" from "personal". 

When I say new phone line, I am not referring to going to ATT or Verizon and signing up for a phone plan but using an app like GoDaddy or Text Free, that would be much more cost effective. Also, those allow to have 1 phone with the two numbers instead of getting a new phone. The email would most likely be a gmail account for now but will set up email forwarding to a more official email once I get a website set up....which is also related to this question, if that is a good idea now or after a few investments under my belt? 

Another place you could look into next time to compare is Hyatt True Value in Damascus. 

@Gwyeth Smith thank you again for your advice. Currently I am keeping my market limit to compare to 5 markets. Out of curiosity-- do you put a limit on that?