Finding your Buy and Hold Market of Choice

[Valerie K.]

As a newbie, I am using multiple resources to gauge where the best markets for buy and hold are right now. Specifically looking at where turn Key investors are working, reading a ton of forums; Money and Kiplinger's magazine publish several articles a year that I digest about best cities to live in, retire in etc.  and offer great insight into housing prices, average local income, growth and more. I am looking at the properties in the marketplace, trying to discover trends or hotbeds. I have looked at various deals using the calculators;  there is probably a winner in every county so I'd really like to find 'my region' before microanalyzing every last detail and property.  This has been my process thus far. 

My question is two fold: 1) any unique or unexpected tips on finding that one market you want to become an expert in and 2) when do you know you are ready to start sending offers? 

Thanks again, the dialog and insight from seasoned investors is invaluable!