Finding a market to get started in

[Cameron McNulty]

I'm 20 years old. I have been learning a lot about real estate through the bigger pockets podcast, and I am eventually going to start looking for deals, and ultimately pulling the trigger on a multi family property. The wall I'm facing currently is deciding which market to start in, because at least for my first 1 or 2 deals, I am going to be local, or at least in the same state. Do you guys have any tools/resources to finding your ideal market for investing? Primarily, I'm pondering rental properties in either Nashville, TN, or Scottsdale, AZ. But honestly, I'm cool with any place that I won't run into frozen pipes. Let me know! Thanks guys, Cameron.

[Evan Polaski]

Welcome to the world of real estate investing.  

Are you willing to move to find a deal?  Real estate is ultra local, so knowing the market you are looking to buy in is important.  Where I live (Cincinnati, OH), the difference of 1/4 mile down the road can mean a vastly different tenant population, and typically your tenants will dictate how easy or frustrating the property is.

So, first and foremost, buy in the areas your KNOW, typically by having lived there for a while.