Try and join a few local Facebook pages and connect with locals who are in the house hacking business. 

I financed this property using down payment funds from 403B and a local commercial bank.

Unless you use a local professional familiar with the market, who you trust, best way to know a good deal is to study the market.

When Helene/Milton hit we had local displacements and I suspended any rising rates (rising naturally due to spike to demand). 

Lastly, your going to want to get with local governance, a lot more then normal.

Also, make sure you know what the local laws are.

We would love to connect with investors, as well as investor-friendly realtors and property managers in the northern Alabama region.Any insights into the local market or recommendations for neighborhoods to explore further would be greatly appreciated.

Hey @Aaron Price, I think the best way you can get started in real estate is to reach out to local investor-friendly agents in your market.

Hey Carlos, I am local to the area and have helped investors with this.

That needs to come from a local attorney.