I've learned a lot this way.  

Hi everyone,I’m looking to dive into the real estate market here in the Des Moines/Metro area and would love to connect with experienced investors, agents, or professionals who are willing to share their insights.I’m particularly interested in learning about your experiences in this market—what’s worked for you, lessons learned, and any advice you’d have for someone getting started.

Thanks for being open on the lessons learned. 

@Dwight HenningRecommend exploring as many sources as possible to get referrals AND cross-reference them to get as much accurate information as possible.Check out NARPM.com, BP’s Property Manager Finder (BiggerPockets: The Real Estate Investing Social Network), etc.Also, encourage you to learn from the mistakes of others - by reading posts here on BiggerPockets about owners not having their expectations met by their current Property Management Company.

Learn how to manage it well.

Here’s what I’ve learned so far: Investors want deals with solid profit potential—so they’re always looking at the numbers: a good ARV, reasonable rehab costs, and enough room to make a return.

Only time will tell Lessons learned?

Get to know other investors and learn from their mistakes.

Wholesaling can be a great way to learn a market and build capital, but holding rentals can provide steady cash flow and equity growth over time—especially in markets like Detroit, where entry prices are lower and rents are solid relative to costs.If you’d like to learn more about navigating Detroit, feel free to reach out—I’m happy to share some resources or insights from my experience.Best of luck in whichever direction you choose!

Dennis' dad and I actually tripped over something similar back in Chandler.. we learned to tap into city planning websites and even call the permit offices directly to get a real sense of their backlogs.