Hope this helps a little

I'm located in Lewes, DE but the joys of the commercial world I can help make deals happen all over!

This will help guide your decision opposed to investing somewhere for a novel reason.for example for me it was cash flow, price to rent ratio, land lord tenant laws and availability of multi-families(Just to name a few). 

I’m looking to network with people that help asset manage multi family apartment complexes.My business partner and I have grown to almost 300 units.

I know of two groups that I believe could help you in this endeavor.

I wanted a place in a A class neighborhood in Chicago with good tenants How did you find this deal and how did you negotiate it?

We like the approach of helping people to create good notes that we would be interested in buying if they decide to sell. 

Those tend to be the neighborhoods that are gentrifying.Unique stuff to Pittsburgh I would say is don't go based on zip codes since one zip code can be composed of multiple different areas/neighborhoods.

There are some programs through local government systems where you may be able to receive a tax abatement or grant here in Michigan in an effort to help beautify a neighborhood.

As for the areas to target, my goal in getting our feet wet as real estate investors--and since we plan to be living in Sac--is to find a property we can live in while renting out one or more units to help cover our housing expenses, which we can then hold and continue to rent out when we move.