hi Heidi, I’m a local investor looking to buy in Pomona California, this fits my buy box.

Yep check BP and Meetup.com or Eventbrite for local meetups @Baron Wheeler

Find and attend your local REI groups. 

While the average price per square foot is higher at $198, the city’s economic growth, particularly with industrial projects along the I-85 corridor, positions it as a strong long-term investment.Key Takeaways for InvestorsGastonia offers affordability with strong rental potential, making it ideal for those seeking high ROI at a lower price point.Kannapolis’ RTP and economic expansion suggest long-term appreciation and increased rental demand.Both markets continue to benefit from local development and infrastructure improvements, making them solid choices for 2025 investment strategies.

She speaks at a lot of meetups locally as well.

There are many people on this site pushing those locations that have not historically kept up with inflation.Btw I advocate all newbies start local even if their local market has not kept up with inflation.  

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

I say start there, exhaust your local efforts before jumping toward "shiny things" and unknown markets, persons etc.. 

I definitely think that if a person is local they have a better chance of making money there.  

In my experience, success in D-class areas almost always requires being local, extremely hands-on, and self-managing.