As I continue to learn the game of Real Estate,one item keeps cropping up over and over again.  Networking.  I am beginning to believe that is the single most important aspect to do well in this field.

Networking is how you find the folks to get started, how you find the members of your team, how you find deals and sell deals.

Let me give you a scenario that just happened to me about 30 minutes ago.   I get home and notice that the abandoned property to the north of me has a truck parked out front and the front door of the house is wide open.  So I wait.  Note: never, ever go into a place where someone could be waiting for you. I already had the license plate jotted down just in case.  Eventually a gentleman comes out.  I introduce myself and inquire about his presence here in a very casual tone.  I don’t want to put folks on the defensive when I first talk to them.  It makes it very hard to get extra facts later you may need. It turns out this gentleman secures and eventually cleans out properties for the bank. I now know someone who knows the condition of property before it goes to the auction block.  I let him know a few more details about what I am trying to do.  I got his business card and I let him know that I will pay a finders fee for properties that he can bring my way.  I just made a new contact.  That simple.

This may not pan out, but it could turn into a very good way to pick up properties.  He may throw me a 50k deal, you just never know.  Never waste an opportunity to network with folks.  You may not see them again for months or even years, but they could be the key to your future success.

Just make some contacts.  Contacts are how I met my first investors, how I bought this house, how I bought my first rentals.  Thank god for the gift of gab my folks gave me.  If your the shy type, I strongly urge you to find any way you can to break out of your shell.   Effectively meeting folks is one hell of a tool to have.