Ventura City new investor

[Brett Blough]

Hi All -- Me and my brother/ biz partner have been on the hunt for a property to flip in the Ventura County market for the past 2 months, but have found it tough to find a deal in which the numbers work that isn't snatched up right off the bat. 

Ideally we'd work the auctions, but our capital isn't quite at that level yet so we're pre-approved for a loan to get the first flip off the ground via a standard or short sale purchase. We've been combing the MLS and sending letters to those houses that look bad on the outside - but having little luck.

Any suggestions or contacts that can help point us in the right direction to find potential deals would be beyond helpful outside of the typical MLS hunt w/ an agent. Also - if anyone knows of any local investment groups meeting up that I can connect with to possibly meet some wholesalers, that would be great!

Thanks for all your help and best to all investors out there!