They often have different vendors introduce themselves so you can build your team and they often have a local member do a case study on one of their properties to share the ins, outs, ups, and downs of the investment.

My experience has always been better with a local lender.With that said, I am reaching out to David Greene's The One Brokerage about a refinance.

Starting with remote investing, like in Charlotte, can be an option, but it might be worth exploring local opportunities in Orange County too.

It would be best to befriend a local contractor or even help one out on a job to see any differences from your past eight years doing it in another country.

I'm a local realtor and investor, so I’d love to help you find the right property and navigate the market.

Quote from @Gregory Schwartz: A local agent recently got sued for calling an old client who was on the Do Not Call list.

Go to BUILD YOUR TEAM at the top of the screen and look for local investors or meetups in your area.

The key difference, though, was he spent months carefully getting to know the local architecs, reputable builders, and even a couple of niche design firms that specialize in modern builds for mid- to high-end buyers.

I've also signed up for New Orleans REI meet ups in the upcoming weeks in hopes of making valuable connections in the local market. 

We're also seeking to buy a local (Raleigh / Durham) property management company to expand that business more rapidly.