I would check the internet for articles about any lender you are considering.

Also we have two great BP meetups per month here that you might find really valuable.

Make realtor connections to understand what makes each house and neighborhood valuable.  

Very valuable information.

I am going to be the contrarian on this subject.. 1. the pre license course is valuable as it teach's the vocabulary of real estate and the basic laws of your state.. its dirt cheap and one of the better ways to build your foundation. 2.

Quote from @Austin Wolff: Hey Kegan, I published on article on BiggerPockets specifically to answer this question for people like you (and selfishly for myself):The 10 Best Markets for Your First House HackNone of the states you mentioned are on this list, however.

I read an article in Forbes that talked about how certain areas can transform quickly if the fundamentals line up.

It’s packed with resources like forums, podcasts, and articles where you can learn from experienced investors and ask questions.

So if you search for specific terms like “real estate for sale” or something similar, you should discover a few solid leads that you never would have found otherwise.All in all, using the search feature is a great way to discover other connections to valuable real estate as well.

In my free time, I like to play pickleball, bass guitar, and I write real estate based articles on LinkedIn.