So I will start attending those and go from there good luck to you!!

Attend some local meetups, and expos.

Do you attend any local meetups?

Also try to attend your local REI networking groups and meetups. 

But I'd like to learn more about other methods that I'm overlooking and can invest in while house hacking and attending networking events. 

I haven't attend any of those even though I do get invite @Margarita Bozhenkova

.#2  Attend local meetups. 

agreed here but in our market we do more than just build we entitle, attend zoning meetings, we sell the asset, we provide rental comps, we negotiate financing structures, very little of the actual process is building. floorplan design, style, etc local knowledge trumps all.

My husband and I were able to change our plans a bit and attend the self guided portion of the tour last Saturday.

It has been recommended to attend a local meetup, but what do I say?