@Todd Anderson totally agree on finding a mentor in the market to learn from.

I have been investing in the stock market for 5 years and I am now transitioning over to real estate after doing my research on real estate for the past two years. 

I'd be happy to visit about the market.  

I have a friend/neighbor that wants to sell me his house below market value so he can move back into an apartment and travel.

This is such an easy way to stand out against the competition in your market.

If you are buying a home to live in - I would suggest finding a good realtor in your market.

Quote from @Lee Banks: Hi my name is Lee I'm looking too buy my first rental property and but I feel as if I need a mentor to watch, I still need to learn the basics of real-estate does anyone in New York do programs or mentorships and where would you start if you first started real-estate today  Hello Lee,I'd recommend looking up local meetups here on BP, meetup.com and, eventbrite.You can also call around to speak with RE investors and professionals in your target market to begin making connections.With so much available information online, I'd recommend speaking to a few people and doing independent research before committing to mentorships.

Just curious, did you ever find the right B neighborhood to invest in?

But I'm starting to wonder if and when some appreciation resumes, and if and when market will dictate rent increases.Appreciate any opinions - thanks

As for Raleigh, if you’ve already seen the success of Airbnb-ing rooms there, it’s worth exploring further, as it’s a growing market with plenty of demand.For alternative strategies in Greensboro, look into renting by the room, especially for professionals or students.