I am leaning on local first for my next investment, but not ruling out an out-of-market opportunity. 

I'm new to real estate investing and looking to connect with any local investor.

Some ways to find that person is local Real Estate Investor Facebook groups, local Real Estate Investor Associations, Realtors who list multiple properties for other investors, Bigger Pockets website's forum, and local property managers.You will also want to try to get on the buyer's list for local real estate wholesalers.To Your Success!

For context, I'm based in the SF Bay Area in CA and looking into buying my first OOS rental after house hacking locally for 10 years.

As always, make sure to run the numbers carefully and factor in local property taxes and HOA fees, which can vary widely in North Texas.Delayed gratification is key in real estate investing, but with patience, the rewards can be life-changing.Best of luck with your search

I really want to do local meetups and interact with more advanced investors but don’t know where to start.

I believe it to be a little Southern California hidden treasure for cashflow, mainly class C but if you know what you are doing its a really good option to invest locally in CA with decent returns.

Costs vary but can range from $1,000 – $3,000 per unit.Water/Sewer: This is more complex and may require approval from your local water authority.

You could get a loan from a local bank or private lender to fund it

@Shawn McCormick is local to the area and can share some of his experiences.