I'm currently working with a realtor who himself is a real estate investor.

Then you can read a more in-depth book like The Book On Rental Property Investing by Brandon Turner or The Unofficial Guide to Real Estate Investing by Spencer Strauss.2.

I'd suggest connecting with a Real Estate Attorney, and going from there. 

I would like to surf the BP app whenever I have downtime just to get my daily news updates on real estate and take advantage of the PRO articles.Someone help!

Here is a newly created resource on BiggerPockets, which touches out cost segregation, accelerated depreciation, bonus depreciation, depreciation recapture, Real Estate Professional Status (REPS), STR Loophole / STR Strategy, example properties, and more. 

Would love to connect with some local investors to talk real estate before or during the visit.

@Yael DoronHi - I don't invest in Phoenix but was just curious if you already own real estate and are looking to expand into Phoenix, or are brand new.

Since REI Nation has had real experience here, I was genuinely curious to hear their thoughts.  

Sometimes you get lucky.You could even bring up the subject of seller financing (search online for ideas of how to structure a seller financed offer), and make sure a competent real estate attorney helps write the offer documents (if it gets that far). 

As @Chris Seveney there are lots of buyers for the real estate backed notes but fewer for the business only notes (without real estate as collateral).