Look at their marketing strategy.

Has anyone here been successful in permitting a conversion?

I'd love to help anyone break into the Huntsville Market! 

I tried attending one in my local market a couple of times but felt like I was in some hotel ballroom being pitched on how the 12 year-old kid up in front would teach us all how to run to the back of the room to swipe $10K on our AMEX for the secrets of real estate investing.

@Joseph Kirton How much time do you feel is needed to be successful?

I have found a good market and have built a good team thus far and I'm ready for my first flip.

Markets like Texas (San Antonio or Dallas) or North Carolina (Charlotte) could offer better cash flow with lower costs.

We scan and analyze every new listing in an investor's target markets and send an email alert of high-potential properties based on their custom criteria. 

Does anybody invest in his market and if so what is the spring and summer like?

It's always a little more challenging investing in out of state (I invested out of state for 15+ years) but you can still be successful doing it.