The boom in real estate has led to a boom in the number of real estate investing clubs.

If you are thinking about joining one, beware. Some are filled with old pros, others with newbies. Some are led by lenders or developers who might be more interested in selling you a mortgage or property than in helping you get rich.

Before joining, find out who is leading the club and how long it has been around. Look at the club's agenda from recent meetings.

For lists of clubs, go to http://www.nationalreia.com/news.html or http://www.creonline.com/clubs.htm