Jason, others may have had a different experience but in my personal experience hard money lending is - like much of business - built on personal relationships.I would recommend you start going to a local REIA such as the RI Real Estate Investors Group (rireig.com) or Black Diamond REI (BlackDiamondREI.com) and network, maybe identify a few promising folks, take them out to coffee or a meal, etc. and just look to start building a few relationships and identifying good prospects.Then when you have a deal you're looking for a lender on, you'll have a few people to start asking and maybe if they don't know someone they can recommend you to someone else in the group (one of their contacts).People are much more comfortable recommending people they already know and have "vetted" as having a minimum amount of knowledge, so that's what you'll really be trying to do - establish that you've educated yourself, didn't just get out of your first seminar last weekend, are committed to real estate beyond this year, etc.All that said, if you think you really have a good deal and have a compelling case to make to a lender*, by all means announce it at one or more local REIA meetings and you may end up making a connection right away.But if you don't already have a good deal & value proposition for a lender then I'd say go the long-game, relationship-building route.

I started my buy and hold portfolio about 6 years ago and have found some diamonds in the rough in the Huntsville/Decatur market.  

Thought it was simmered in Diamond Head Crater brah.

There are diamonds in the rough to be found, just not always as many as off market.  

Yes it cash-flows great (a little under $1200 a month, 29% cash on cash return), but the support and positive acknowledgement i received from the community for transforming an eye sore to a diamond was worth millions.

Your state has some diamonds. 

This site has a lot of great resources for people exactly in your position - filled with enthusiasm about the potential that real estate has to offer, and looking where to start.I recommend starting with the Bigger Pockets Ultimate Beginner's Guide as that will give you a lot of good advice and next steps.For networking and education I recommend the RI Real Estate Investors Group which meets twice a month (one virtual/Zoom meeting for beginners and then an in-person meeting for members), and the Black Diamond REI group in southern Mass is good as well.

Hi Guys, I was wondering if you guys can suggest brokers that provide good training for new RE agents in the 626 area (Diamond bar, Walnut, and etc)

For my practice analysis, I looked at SFH within the Arcadia, San Marino, and Diamond Bar school districts, with 3 or 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.

A diamond saw, sledge hammer and, viola, you have a hole.