A friend of mine attended one and found it incredibly helpful..they even walked through actual deals they've closed in the area.Don't overlook online resources either.

We have worked on improving the physical appearance and infrastructure of the park, updating the homes, getting a new sign, advertising it online, and creating a website (www.shadyacreshuntington.com).

Should I be visiting, asking neighbors questions, getting a feel for the neighborhood and home (in person rather than just off of online research) before buying or making offers? 

For me - Subto has been tremendously helpful for me.The post wasn't about BP, which I thoroughly enjoy visit regularly and use the online calc tools incredibly often.~ Randy  

There's a lot of bad information available online and its not prudent to rely on most of what you read.

Some of the upgrades look great from the pictures I saw online.

This one is available online for free at nfpa.org.Much of what's in these docs doesn't apply, because they cover a LOT of ground. 

@Sam Peterson You can utilize different online companies (web, phone apps, etc.) for this but if you're new to REI you could gain traction by making your own.

I can't seem to find much info online about this and I've had trouble finding contractors willing to take this on

A professional contractor is not going to work with you buying parts that don't fit online or at Home Depot.Who pays for delays?