There're some 20 of us contributing answers and working with clients nationwide.In your neck of the woods, start with @Matt Ward who is in Walnut Creek and @Jana Cain who is in Richmond.

She's the creative one, and I'm just the muscle. ;-) How did you find this deal and how did you negotiate it?

@Jim Lamp'l - Do you meant the Dam Neck area of Virginia Beach?  

Right next to a university, very nice neck of the woods.

I think there's pros and cons to both, but to be clear in other scenario I want to lead or be actively involved in finding and managing the deal so I can begin to build up that muscle.

Those big burly guys with neck tatoos.  

Will keep you posted on that, as we aren't neck deep into it yet.

See what people in your neck of the woods recommend. 

I would still consider myself naive though so there’s no doubt I eill be neck deep in books, articles, forums, and everything I can get my hands on.

In fact it was in your neck of the woods:"As reported by Reuters, Obama was howdying a crowd in Beaverton, Ore., on May 9, 2008, when he said: "It is wonderful to be back in Oregon.