Flipping in VA Beach, VA -- Goal for 2017

[Kate Johnson]

I've been lurking on BP and reading a lot. My husband and I ultimately want to be buy-and-hold investors when we relocate back home to Texas, but for now, the Navy has us in Virginia Beach, VA. Instead of waiting around until we settle somewhere, I thought flipping might be a way to get our feet wet in Real Estate and quit sitting on the sidelines (sorry for my mixed metaphors).

Any local folks have advice on how we could do this in 2017?  We would spend our own money to do this.  We are moderately handy and are eager to be very hands on just to learn as much as we can.  Also, I have the time because I just stay at home with my young kids. I'd like to go to any RE monthly meetings.  Dates and times? Any info on court house auctions I could go observe?  What else could I do to learn quickly?

I want this to be the top of my goals for 2017.