The Real Estate Investing Journey

This relates to all areas, not just real estate... but if you desire to 'break' into a certain area of real estate but can't because of lack of experience, then consider volunteering.

Obviously we can't list all volunteering opportunities out there, you need to get creative in looking for areas to volunteer that are in the skill sets you want to develop. Perhaps your volunteer position doesn't even exist, but with your desire you can convince one to be created.

For example, a few months ago an opportunity to serve on our city's Planning and Zoning Commission came up. Before that I had no idea really that all you had to do to get involved in city government was just volunteer. In this case I had to apply and interview, but that may be different in your city. Check with your city secretary about the various boards and commissions your city has and how you can serve.

What are we learning on Planning & Zoning? We are learning how city governments work, which indirectly affect our real estate investments. How certain zoning changes affect residential areas positively or negatively. How knowing a city's future plans for itself can factor in your decision to invest in that area.

Most of the lessons learned are indirect lessons related to investing in single family houses, but we are directly learning things which can help us in the future if we decide to switch our focus from holding single family homes to real estate developing. We're learning what one has to go through to get things to happen on the city level. Example, you buy a parcel of land and want to develop it but need to change the zoning, or ask for a variance on the current zoning. But perhaps most important, we're making contacts. Contacts which we may not know right now how they can help us or we help them, but may become more apparent in the future.

Plus, giving of yourself feels good/right. If you have accepted Christ's gift of forgiveness, you have been saved *for* good works, not *because* of good works.