What are your strategies for meeting the right people?
What are your best strategies for networking locally? I’m trying to secure my first commercial property and am reminded of a time when I was searching for my first job when all job listings required former jobs. 

Im not a big player by any means and want to respect people’s time, but how do I balance that with still making sure I’m making the right relationships?

Thanks for any thoughts or advice!
[{"id": "gtb4dop", "text": "Look into NAIOP functions.Also many business journals host round tables and networking events for CRE. Covid limited them last year but should open up soon", "replies": [{"id": "gtcd0xn", "text": "Yeah I mean I don\u2019t know how this works in other places but you exorbitant fees to sit with pompous brokers at overpriced functions who\u2019s friendship isn\u2019t going to bag you any deals whatsoever. Might just be my observation", "replies": [{"id": "gtdjsmu", "text": "There are plenty of developers bankers engineers architects etc that participate.", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}, {"id": "gtgdvq0", "text": "Thanks, I\u2019ll check it out!", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gtbhsvg", "text": "Golf", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gtbm17v", "text": "Why are you reminded of finding your first job when looking for your first commercial property? What are the similarities?", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gtbo1wt", "text": "Talk to everyone. You never know who the \"right\" person might be.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gtcf6g6", "text": "Check Bisnow or https://adventuresincre.com/events/events/ \n\nHave you hired a CPA, attorney, or lender? They can introduce you to people too", "replies": [{"id": "gtgdn4r", "text": "Thanks for your response! My CPA and lender haven\u2019t been as helpful as I\u2019d hoped with connections, but I\u2019ll check out that link!", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gtcqstr", "text": "Some of the best advice I got was \u201cjust go in and make a big mess\u201d by that it meant, who cares what people think, what protocols you\u2019re supposed to follow, etc. Find any and all networking functions and cold call to talk to people. Have no fear! Explain what you\u2019re looking for and tell them you\u2019re looking for a mentor or source of capital. You\u2019ll get a lot of No\u2019s, but that\u2019s the nature of the business.", "replies": [{"id": "gtgduk0", "text": "I love this, thank you. I\u2019m over concerned with practicing all of the etiquete, and i need to just show up and start making relationships.", "replies": [{"id": "gtmbpq1", "text": "no one ever remembers the people who told them no ;0  \n\nAlso if you are cringy its really ok, a lot of people will want to help you anyways, and if not fuck em", "replies": [{"id": "gtojnr6", "text": "Haha I really appreciate this!", "replies": [], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gtd9mdf", "text": "You don't mention your target area or your asset class. Metro? Suburban? Industrial, Office? \n\nI'm a broker, not an investor, but when prospecting I've found two method that are productive (for me). \n\nNumber 1 is the old ye olde shoe leather method where you walk the area that interests you block by block. Talk to the people you meet along the way, including the mail man, and delivery drivers, and the tenants in attractive property that could interest you. They often know more than you might think about what is going on. When you find a property that looks promising contact the owner directly. \n\nThis is time consuming ,but it definitely pays off, maybe not right away, but over the long haul. I can think of multiple transactions that resulted from just walking around and seeing what might have upside potential. In commercial not everything is listed and often there is the unstated desire by many CRE firms to have both sides of the deal so they often don't really make the availability known.\n\n\\#2 is is getting to know who are the good brokers and making them aware of your interests, financial resources and timeline. (That also includes loan officers, insurance people, appraisers, title company, etc.) Let them know you're looking.  Out here everybody knows each other and friendly ongoing relationships still count (more than you might think).", "replies": [{"id": "gtgdgrh", "text": "Thanks for your response! To your second point, what do you think is the best way to get to know the good brokers? How would I know a good broker from a bad one?", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gtealj4", "text": "I would check out your local CCIM chapter. You can visit and or join your local chapter without having to pay national dues. It\u2019s one of the first groups I joined as a broker and the connections I\u2019ve made are invaluable. You have people from all walks of CRE attending. Not sure if all markets are the same, but where I am it has been incredible. Also checkout Clubhouse if you have an iPhone. You will need an invite as it\u2019s an invite only app, but it\u2019s a phenomenal networking platform. Basically like an interactive podcast. Great way to make connections locally, nationally, and beyond. There is a large CRE community on there, and I\u2019ve found it to be quite valuable so far. Good luck!", "replies": [{"id": "gtgdcvm", "text": "Thanks for the suggestion! Someone just mentioned ClubHouse to me also. I\u2019ll be checking those out!", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gtjn3ml", "text": "Employ common sense tactics that may not be common practice.  I also play the game, as a broker, where I see how long I can talk to a prospect before brining up real estate.  They know you're a broker and have that in the back of their mind.  If you can keep the conversation human for as long as possible, they appreciate that.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}]