The closest group I am aware over there is BROA (Benton Franklin Rental Owners Association)http://bentonfranklinrentalowners.com/It isn't an investor meetup kind of group though. 

The closest person to you might be right.

You can actually go into Zillow, look at the accuracy rate, for your closest metropolitan market.

@Ian SmithSeems like the closest meet up is an hour away, but I won't let that stop me.

Airdna is the closest but it’s not even close.

Columbus OH as an established marketDetroit as an up and coming/has room to growMy local market is too expensive but closest to local is Buffalo/Erie County

If you offer to little, you risk angering the seller to the point that they'll tell you to get stuffed.The best negotiators find out what the other side most wants out of a deal and then comes up with solutions that come the closest to satisfying both sides.It sounds like you pushed too hard and that puts you at a disadvantage. 

Bakersfield is likely the closest affordable area that is arguably "up and coming". 

That's like buying a lollie pop and hoping that since you got started, it will turn into a steak.

Dayton may be the closest established market for you...or maybe even into Indiana (Fort Wayne perhaps)...That said, I'm a big fan of secondary rural markets..lots of possibilities that don't exist in metro's