​"My normal advice to new investors is to jump in sooner rather than later. It’s easy to get stuck endlessly reading books and listening to podcasts and never actually starting. My normal advice doesn’t necessarily apply right now.

"This is not a market I would be head-over-heels to jump into. Sure, if you find the right deal, go for it. But investors and particularly newbies should be substantially more cautious and conservative right now.

"If you have been considering liquidating a few properties—with prices rising and inventory at historic lows—this is not a bad time to do it.
​
"That doesn’t, of course, mean that you need to or should sell all or even some of your properties. We certainly aren’t doing so. But we are being far more cautious with our purchases. A more volatile market that’s likely near the top means we want a better deal than before."

1. Look for Investor-Focused Marketing
​
Go to various local networking events targeted at the real estate industry and look for the banks marketing there or the bankers who attend. These are usually the banks who are looking for investors like you.

Good places to consider attending include your local REIA (Real Estate Investor’s Association), BiggerPockets Meetups (if one is nearby), and/or other local real estate meetups you can find on Facebook or Meetup.com. I would also consider checking out CCIM, which has a crowd more inclined toward commercial real estate. Many lenders attend, as well.