You can find out plenty about your local market by doing an internet search, reading local blogs, and reading up on the local area chamber of commerce website.

I also look at chambers of commerce as a way to meet people in the business.Gary Keller from Remax wrote a good book for agents.Good LuckGino

You have to be on the City Council, part of the school board, on the chamber of commerce, a supporter of the fire department, etc., etc. 

Other things one can do is subscribe to the local paper and business journal, bookmark the chamber website, call Real Estate agents and Property Managers not affiliated with the sell, talk to other out of state investors for their feedback, just to name a few.  

Network, social clubs, chamber of commerce, newspaper advertising , craiglist, car signs, Youtube, investor clubs, school board meetings, church groups, Personal lawyer, mailings, foreclosure lists, neighborhood door knocking, drive bys, grocery store bulletin boards, Trulia, Zillow, realtors, expired listings, RealtorTrac, FSBO, Garage sales, Open houses, Family reunions, Fire truck chaser, Funeral chaser, Floods, Classified ads, Apartment rental listings in newspaper, Current Tenants, Hud home auctions and listings, REO's, Real Estate auctions, Auctioneers, Appraisers, Relationships with Building code inspectors and others in office, Propertry Tax sales, Sheriff auction sales, Soliciting mailings to Probate lawyers, Real Estate seller lead providers, GURUS that have lead programs, Start an RE investment club locally, Hold seminars local on how to buy a home or sell your home. and on and on and on.

Katherine T.Connect with the president of the local Chamber of Commerce ask them who they like in the local banks the referral you get is likely the Pres or VP using the chamber president as a name drop they will take your call.Paul

Yes.The general problem with real estate investing forums is that a lot of new investors come to them looking for an echo chamber just to tell them to do something they want to do, but don't have the skills, background, or expertise to do and then people say, yeah do it.

@Jonny Mcknight we aren't here to give you an echo chamber.

As for what is in the vicinity of the property I would get a chamber of commerce map or an online map and modify, leave it in the property.

Hey @Russ Chambers, welcome to the BP community!