You could also check what Realtors in your market are preferred agents here on BP- they should have at least a little experience with investing and a network built up. 

It’s great that you’re looking to connect with local investors—it’s always helpful to learn from others’ experiences as you get started.As someone new to investing, one thing to consider is not limiting yourself to your immediate area.

Quote from @Najhae Robinson: Hello, we run a PadSplit property management company in Atlanta, GA and we're curious on other investors experiences with the business model.

One thing I've learned from my experience is that I do not set hard rules.

Selling and exploring a 1031 exchange could make sense if you can find a deal with stronger cash flow or faster equity growth, but the key is comparing your current return to what your skill and experience could generate in another investment.Here to help,Jorge

By the end of my time, I became a realtor and worked the deal by myself for more experience.

In my experience it cannot be used as construction funding. 

From my understanding, based on my experience buying and selling properties in Texas, any known repair or damage—even if resolved—should still be disclosed, along with a note explaining that it was fixed.

There's a lot of other things to consider here but I'll go through your list and make some suggestions based on 10 years of investing across various asset classes - single family, multifamily, industrial, storage, retail, office, etc. and I've had experience with section 8 housing, BRRRR, flips, etc.Purchasing rental properties?

In my experience, finding cash-flowing deals on-market can be challenging here (1% rule can be hard to find) but not impossible.