Real estate investment remains strong despite the current economic crisis we are facing today. There are strategies that are working in the current market and there are others that should be considered knowing that they are high risk and could cause losses.

Short sales remain strong, although foreclosure auctions and bank REO properties are beginning to take the lead. This all depends on where you live and what’s going on in your market. If you’re not familiar with the market, then you need to find a way to figure out what your market is doing.

The easiest way for anyone to do this is to network and build relationships with people in the industry. Networking is the key to success in today’s market. The industry is changing and few are adapting to it. The old days of doing it are only slowly waning. The market demands good teams and groups of investors who have teamed up and now share resources to invest in today’s tough market.

So here are some places where you can start networking and what to look out for.

If you live in a big city, you probably have an investment association in your area. If not, you can probably find the one closest to you and start networking with people there and they may meet other people doing business near where you are.

Joining these groups is usually a welcoming experience, but be careful about the offers you are offered when you first join. There are good investors who are there to help others, but you will often come across other people whose agendas may differ and be self-centered and just looking to make a profit. Real estate deals aren’t just thrown out, so be diligent when you enter these groups.

There are other ways to network with people if you can’t find a local association, and you can start with forums and social networking sites like Facebook where you can find groups interested in investing in real estate.

There are also companies like Trump University and Rich Dad’s real estate training where you can meet people who are being trained to invest in real estate and may be looking for resources.

Another company where you can network is Nouveau Riche University, where students learn all the different areas of real estate investing, from land development and residential fixes to commercial real estate investing.

Although the reputation of the company is good when it comes to the quality of teaching, care must be taken when networking with students. Not all students who attend college are real estate experts or necessarily have real estate experience. Some may only know the theory and few actually apply what they learn.

Networking at Nouveau Riche University should be done with the same care and due diligence that would be taken when networking with other people, whether in online forums or at your local real estate investor association.