Aside from the Lake County Real Estate Investors Association monthly meet up, are there any other meet ups in the local area?

The other thing I wanted to mention is, you might consider getting yourself on the Homeowner's Association Board.

Save yourself a lot of time and money get yourself A CAM (Community Association Manager) license and a Realtor's license. 

Don't forget to take into account all of your expenses if you're doing buy-and-hold (especially in Columbia, MD with the Columbia Association fees on top of any other special tax assessments that may be there). 

The issue is the savings associating with paying down the mortgage is so low that almost any investment is likely to out perform it. 

There’s one true association website you want to go to and make sure you get the add on needed for financial/contracts.

You do need to do due diligence on the association very carefully.  

You need to underwrite the deal to determine what you're willing to pay and the associated risks. 

I knew the condo association was reviewing bids  for an upcoming exterior paint job and repairing rotted wood.

*****************************************************************************************Home sellers slash prices, especially in CaliforniaIn the four weeks ended Sept. 16, more than one-quarter of the homes listed for sale had a price drop, according to Redfin, a real estate brokerage.The supply of homes for sale increased annually in August for the first time in more than three years, according to the National Association of Realtors.The average rate on the popular 30-year fixed mortgage loan is up more than a quarter of a percentage point in the past month and is knocking on the door of 5 percent, a level not seen in nearly a decade.https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/20/home-sellers-are-s..."