Also, local meetups are a great way to meet local investors!

I’ve realized I need additional help—someone local, like an assistant.Here’s my idea: I was thinking of purchasing a small piece of property and putting something modest on it, like a single-wide home or a similar small structure.

Going to start by checking into local REÍ meetups and talking to some friends and family that are doing what I’d like to.

I'm a local real estate broker, investor, and manager (100+ rentals, mostly Airbnb/STR and multifamily).House hacking is a tried-and-true method and in Sacramento you can produce some meaningful income while enjoying the appreciation and tax benefits of owning real estate.

Why don't you join a local landlord association?

You’ll likely need to look beyond the city limits (in areas that are still close enough to the city to benefit from its local economic tailwinds) if you want to find deals that pencil out.

Since you're open to markets beyond NYC, you might want to connect with local investor meetups or REI groups in those areas to build relationships with agents, wholesalers, and lenders who understand the nuances of each market.If you're looking to break out of analysis paralysis, maybe start by narrowing down one or two target markets and running numbers on actual deals.

Nevertheless I am local now and I have that real estate desire (which never went away).

With careful planning and local insights, Richmond can be a solid addition to your investment portfolio.Good luck!

Any tips or tools for evaluating the local market would be greatly appreciated.