Analyze local market trends, rental demand, and economic indicators to pinpoint growth potential, and reach out to local investors / RE professionals in your area.

A different investor will have different criteria.On the other hand CrowdStreet tends to have one of the largest volumes of deals.

Hi Jagger-Great question.I am a fellow Michigander from Ann Arbor.Nothing against Maine but the Midwest has seen some of the strongest rent growth in the country.When I consult with my clients, if they don't have the budget for a market like Ann Arbor, I direct them to Lansing, MI.The cashflow is strong, the economy is stable, it is the State capital so there is always economic development creating new jobs, the price point is relatively affordable because the cost of living is lower there, and appreciation is predictably linear.I also advise investors to buy duplexes and up so you always have a rent check coming in most of the time if you have a vacancy.

Cities and regions experiencing economic expansion tend to attract more renters and offer better long-term investment potential.

Economics will play out - the more desirable, the higher overall revenue. 

As a note, a 5-10 unit project would not be economical under the HUD 221d4 program. 

B/C in the day were where the largest client for that counties title company they insured our properties the day after we recorded the tax collector deed.. ( about 60 days to get it) and boom we resold.. never had an issue with hundreds upon hundreds of these our company did.. 

The appealing aspect here is the ongoing population growth and other economic factors.

I'd just reconsider the economics and pay someone to do some really good underwriting and if you don't understand zoning I'd get a zoning attorney. we self perform all of our own zoning 

Zarrin  Crowdstreet has traditionally had the largest # of deals to choose from (although at the moment has just a handful).