Frustrations with REIAs

I definitely don't go to REI Clubs to get educated. even though you can usually pick up on one or two things during any training or sales pitch! I sit through the sales pitch in order to network.

I think you are encountering what is pretty standard with ANY type of networking whether live or on the internet. 90% are tire kickers or people that are the classic over analyzers. They think they have to know everything about REI. The fear of failure is great and they NEVER take action.

HOWEVER, if you go to these meetings and meet TWO people that each want 2 deals a month that is 48 deals a year. Say you make $5000 a deal. That is $240,000 a year that came from networking at a REI club. Do that at two clubs...well you get the picture.

Usually people that are really shakers and movers are not on the internet or attending REI meetings. I met my really strong buyers by doing deals! They are doing business! For me as a wholesaler, I continually build my buyers list. I add everyone I can. The tire kicker of today MIGHT become the buyer of tomorrow!!

We actually own and operate our own REI club here in Denver. The networking and the people you meet when YOU are running the club are AWESOME.

Hope this helps,
Michael

Thanks that definitely helps. I'm just trying to figure out if this little project is worth the time investment, it would be nice to have an app that can refer to my site, which is also undergoing some major changes right now lol PIPS

Perhaps this can help answer your questions.

http://www.johntreed.com/BSchecklist.html

Michael is right, lot's of spectators at REIA's, i have added about 20 buyers to 30-buyers to my list in So Cal for going to just one REIA the premier one here in san diego & the level of education is good at ours & there is no sales really, every now and then, I am fortunate.

I would say too-try out several of them, I did go to one first that was just a sales meeting for a couple of agents, but my network is great from going to this REIA, now I am going to go to the other 2 major REIA's in the County.

GFDM!-Go faster do more!

I have always enjoyed the networking and fellowship and learned from my visits to reia's.
I don't see any reason not to belong. This is just my opinion. to each his own.

I really think that most REIA clubs around the country are populated by much more than 10% active investors. I spent about 2 1/2 years traveling and speaking at these groups and would estimate that I probably keynoted at about 150 different groups. My experience was that probably about 1/3 of each group is experienced and active, the remainder are novices attempting to learn.
Most groups are quite well run, but some have leaders who are either more interested in running their own businesses, or else the club is their main business and they are trying to earn a living from their involvement with the REIA.
I think any real rating system could be helpful. Unfortunately, I do not have a high opinion of J Reed, and I will defer from saying anything further on that subject. But if an app or website was created for rating the experience in attending a REIA, that would not only be helpful for new attenders, but also for leaders to receive feedback from their members.
Before concluding, I would like to add one additional suggestion. If you attend a REIA and feel that it could be made better, why not volunteer to help with some aspect of the club. I've been the president of one of these organizations, and was a consultant for the National REIA, and can say with surety that it is difficult to get people to help with things. But as President Theodore Roosevelt once said, Every man owes a portion of his means to the organization that supports his living.

Dallin,

Thanks for your reply. I've decided to go ahead and develop an app for it. I am actually kinda in-between REIAs right now since I just moved back to the West Coast from the East. Maybe they are different here, but either way this should be useful.

It seems that there could be alot of potential offerings to people who would use an app like that. Real Estate Investors are insatiable with respect to ongoing education and tools. That's not a negative comment, as in your Benjamin Franklin quotation, Trones21. Convenient tools for assessing properties on your smart phone, an app to put together and mail out a marketing piece on a property, also on smart phone, or tablet, would probably be much appreciated. Wishing you the best with your endeavor.