Join real estate groups, attend workshops, and engage with online communities to learn from others’ experiences.

They said I was the first investor that had ever attended one.

Attending auctions, negotiating directly with banks, and exploring short sales are all viable strategies depending on your investment goals and risk tolerance.

Community banks, and any lenders in the market would also hear references for you.I would also, when attending meetups, speak to other investors.

Or attend a meetup and see what your local experts say. 

I attended the Mom's House event a few days ago.

I’ll start attending our local meetups though just to start building that network.

Whether or not seller's agent was present at your home inspection, it sounds like you attended and had every right and opportunity to ask the inspector any questions you wanted to and crawl all over that property then.

(Call and say you want to attend the FFP event; its cheaper than signing up online. 

I can definitely attend meetings and continue to network but I'd like to make progress too.