I have been told that this market is tough but not impossible, so hoping a find a diamond in the rough.

If you have not been to a  local real estate investment group go to one,   Black Diamond is in the Worcester area,  there is also a boston REIA.  

If you do have the black gooey tar mastic you need a diamond blade that spins to scrape it off.

@Derek Diamond I am also brand new to REI my question to you if you dont mind me asking, being new to the bigger pockets website how do I find local RE in my area on this site that are already advanced in the same thing i'm trying to do which is buy and hold ?

However, some things in these shows just are plain unrealistic.Things You Can Learn From HGTV Type Shows:You Have to See The Diamond in The Rough:  Notice on "Fixer Upper" how they always drive by three houses always trying to keep you on the edge of your chair as the potential home owner agonizes over which of the three choices they will choose.  

I also have realtors at my disposal that I have worked with in flips that seem to find me the diamonds in the rough..

I took a 5 mo online class with Bob Diamond.

It is worth it, though, once you do find that diamond in the rough.

Being in Brookline you definitely should get out to the Black Diamond meetings in Waltham (also a 2nd location in Worcester).

The Black Diamond meeting (@Ann Bellamy) is happening in Worcester tomorrow night at 6pm.