Crunch the numbers, do your due diligence, and you'll find the diamonds in the rough relatively quickly.Education Points:1) Network.

In Boston check out the Black Diamond Networking events.

@Francesco ConigliaroFinding foreclosures can be rewarding, yielding diamonds in the rough or real-estate fortunes sold below market value.

If you are near a university and everyone is mid-term. or long-terming it, then be THE game-day place and cash in off the STR revenue from folks who just can't miss the hoops, baseball diamond, or gridiron at the U.

Caldwell is one of the hottest areas in our metro market and this home was a diamond in the rough- needed some love, but within walking distance to great restaurants, parks, hipster coffee shops, etc.

If you discover that lot rents are significantly higher than the $200 this park is currently getting, this might be a diamond in the rough.

The last thing I need is that $25000 irreplaceable family heirloom diamond to pop up missing.  

Particularly, @Justin Silverio just had an unofficial free BP meetup in Woburn, @Mike Hurney runs a group on the north shore, and I have the Black Diamond free meetings in my signature below.

@Alan Diamond , you'll find people on both sides of that discussion-- SF vs multi.Multi spreads your risk a bit because 1 vacancy doesn't equate to 100% vacancy and many people find better theoretical cashflow.On the other hand, SF means you have less tenants to manage, can usually require them to pay all utilities as well as lawn and snow care and tenants seem to stay longer.  

I really liked never split the difference by Voss and getting more by Stuart Diamond.