They are NARPM members, and leaders in the Industry.  

You can essentially piggyback on the authority of the local news media and publications, and it will demonstrate to your investors that you have your finger on the pulse of the market.Here's some examples for you specifically in regards to Stockton:'Region's Outlook Bright, SJ Leaders Say'"John Solis, director of the San Joaquin Employment and Economic Development Department, said his department is working to ensure many residents stay employed, or find new positions for job seekers.Last year, his department hosted 84 job and resource fairs in an effort to find work for some 31,000 residents.

We were hands on and the tenants and their stories as to why they didn't have rent or couldn't pay rent after being good tenants for several years wore us down, dealing with Section 8 and the codes inspectors and their weird selection of our properties over the vacant city owned houses next door wore us down, and the city itself (Kansas City Missouri - which at one point sent us a bill for $100,000 in 1% earnings tax which (a) is not supposed to be charged on rental income and (b) would have meant we had earned over a Million dollars in rental income on our rental houses in 1 year) wore us down.As a local REIA leader I have fielded the calls from the out of state investor who bought a turn key property for way too much money and the turn key tenant stopped paying 60 days in had to be evicted and then had the house fully vandalized at about the 6 month mark and now had way too much money into a house that needed another $10,000 in vandalism repair to bring it back up to rental condition.  

I am contemplating meeting with community leaders and getting their input on their needs and views  so that I align my interest with bears.

Mcreia  meets every 2nd Tue at the Comfort Inn off 200 and i-75 at 6:30 .. just show up .. there is no charge for the first vist and plan to go to Denny's afterwards to get to know some members .. kind if a impromptu meeting .. i wish you luck and maybe Ill see you there .. by the way, dont quit your job .. and dont move out quite yet .. unless you have it bad at home .. stay and save but, learn .. maybe offer to do apprentice work on your off hrs and weekends .. or like somebody suggested .. volunteer at habitat .. you may even meet a ex president .. you never know who you might meet that can change your life .. hopefully for the better .. the best thing I have learned over my 46 yrs is, surround your self with the kind of people you want to be .. ie .. good, honest, hard working, religious, investors, smart, funny .. you have to make your own list .. but I myself try to hang out and be friends with  good people that are successful or at least want to be. thats why I like BiggerPockets so much .. just about everyone on here is so focused and kind .. .. be sure to take full advantage of all BP has to offer ..

I have been researching everything for the past month pretty religiously, every day looking for leads and listening to podcasts and researching terms.

I'm learning so much.Thanx to both of you for being great leaders.

Lisa Lopez the Group leader for Ocean County sub group and is a fantastic resource. 

JasonThe main reason we are having this discussion is the fact that lenders and their leaders are still brain dead.

During the previous year, I had listened to the BP Podcast religiously on my commute to and from work, which was instrumental in giving me the confidence to move forward with buying.