Thanks Melissa,I've always worked with smaller companies and like the team culture.

Petersburg might be an interesting place to look at- there are tons of local REI that are investing there, high rental demand, lots of interesting nightlife and cultural stuff, and I think more of a young scene.

I echo the others on screening guests for cultural fit.

I'm willing to do a lot of grunt work and I speak 3 Chinese dialects if that helps.

Hi Massimo and fellow Canadians,Texas is also a great place to invest because it has: 1) Pro-landlord laws 2) Affordable prices / good returns 3) No state income tax 4) population and economic growth which has driven prices higher.I specialize in helping foreign investors buying real estate in the US and more specifically in Texas.Here Canadian are among the top three foreign buyers along with Chinese and Mexican buyers.I provide financing for these international buyers.

For those who don't know, supposedly a high level university or college administrator asks a Chinese student what he's noticed most about Americans since he's been there.

A couple of weeks ago, a Chinese Communist news outlet (aren't they all?)

Somehow OKC got all the growth but Tulsa is so much prettier with 10 times the culture

What else should I do to start building my network, to learn the local RE culture and market there?

Before you know it you will understand the values in that area better than most agents.Create a commercial checking account with a credit line.Attend every public auction in your area, bid on none but study the process, look at the property and play a game - guess what the high bid might beMake friends with new real estate agents (new only---- they haven't been polluted by negative comments and attitudes by older agents.)Ask your agents to send you list of expired listings (give them money for their services, like a thank you $100.00 bill) Understand the Law of Universal Prosperity.)Run classified ads in your local news papers --WANTED All real estate, commercial, houses and non-conforming properties, family business call 555-555-5555 for a fast no fee offer.Call me if you need a partner.Have fun while learning, don't take this business too seriouslyDon't make offers on real estate, make them on the equity that the real estate can offerAlways negotiate for the equityGet a real estate license, not to be an agent, but to understand the culture of the business, to have access to the MLS and to meet some nice folksFarm an area - drive around, look for FSBO's, agent's signs, ugly houses, put them in your journal to call laterCreate a little flyer to put on super market's bulletin boardsAsk 10 people a day this questions; "would you know of anyone who would like to sell their real estate?"