@Matt M.I'm from Boston, and here is my advice:First get a license and as a licensed agent you can earn a fee to facilitate the transactionIn the listing agreement:The seller can pay you the 3% and you can facillitate the lease and option "acting agent for" Seller is paying you 3%.for facilitating the lease option, and buyer can have 3% option fee to the seller directly.  

Hello All, I'm actually moving up to Vermont from Boston in about a week, so I'd definitely also be interested in attending the meetings and connecting with other people in the real estate world.

Beyond that many other options on the North Shore and south of Boston as well. 

These would most likely be BTU meters.I just finished building a 315 unit project in Boston and we actually put a water submeter in every unit to measure their water consumption. 

I come from a background in transportation. 

I want properties near hospitals, colleges, military bases, or transportation. 

I live in lowell MA , I'm young and driven to get this on the road. I'm willing to do whatever it takes for me to learn the basics to be successful. I'm interested on buy and hold investment only. I have no experience...

Or, you could rent rooms.Feasibility depends on proximity to public transportation and shopping.

You can also check out the Boston Area REIA in Medford, which on paper isn't that far away.:)  Several other options farther North as well as South of Boston too. 

I currently live and own in the Boston area and will be looking for my first investment property in the next several months.