I am on the board of CFRI, the local chapter of the National REIA.

If you are an agent and local you should be able to scout the areas.

If you don't fall within that category a knowledgeable local real estate agent can be an excellent resource.

I am leaning on local first for my next investment, but not ruling out an out-of-market opportunity. 

My thinking immediately turned to researching local rental costs per square foot to determine income potential with triple the current square footage.

You could start with your agent or a local agent who supports investors and could have contacts to refer to you.Lastly, you could consider negotiating with a local PM to take on a hybrid approach to management.  

For me, it’s been a mix of local friends and paid contractors.

Private equity firms seem to favor larger operations with scalable systems, while smaller mom-and-pop firms are often acquired by local players or regional operators looking to expand their footprint.If you’re looking for actionable intel, reaching out to brokers specializing in the sale of PM firms could provide useful leads.

I would love to connect with local investors around the area and discuss real estate.

Are you investing in your local market?