New to BP and RE investing: Getting started in the Chicago area

[CT Marsh]

Hello, BP community! I am new to RE investing, but sponging up as much as I can from books, the forums, and  BP podcasts. I am living in Chicago and would love to link up with other investors in the area to gain perspective on the market! There seem like boundless niches to focus on (or get distracted by) when getting started in RE investing, but the most integral skill seems to be finding deals. House-house hacking, wholesaling, flipping, etc...all seem to be predicated on 'buying right'. What do you find to be an effective approach to this process for those getting started?