I’m Monica Bynum here a local agent in Memphis, Tn.

My local REIA used to have Saturday morning cash flow games that I found very beneficial.

I call them in-between because they are conferences, so not like your local meetups, but they are not truly "industry" conferences like NMHC, where you will meet primarily career, corporate multi-family people.Bigger Pockets Conference and Best Ever Conference are two that likely would cater to people more in your position.  

If you have $210,000, you can easily make 10% as a bridge/hard money lender in your local area.

One thing I’ve noticed is how many licensed agents don’t fully understand the contracts they’re using or the local real estate laws.

Stay hyperlocal and get a good team in place locally so you can recognize good people when you find them. 

Community engagement: Homeowners have a greater financial stake in their neighborhoods and are more likely to invest in their local communities.

I am new to real estate investing and looking to connect with any local investor.

Look for a local credit union that can offer a cash-out refinance once the work is done, ideally with minimal seasoning.

Detroit is very much a block-by-block city, so having local knowledge is absolutely critical.