@Marcus Retter welcome to BP.It's a great community.I've been investing in Albuquerque for 10 years, and you can find some good deals there.Personally, I live in Santa Fe.There are several active Meetups that you can join to get around to other investors.Networking is really important.Get out there and make connections with other investors; that is how I got started. 

I’m working with local investors who are snapping up everything they can get their hands on, and honestly, I can’t blame them.

Several of them have ripped off investors.

I have looked into hard money loans but they are all for investors.

I'd appreciate some insight from some local investors.

We have a great community of investors here.  

Please stop asking us for "the best" zip codes to invest in.Detroit has around 183 Residential Neighborhoods - wouldn't it be nice if "some property mangagement company" Classified them all as A, B, C, or D on an interactive map that real estate investors could use to make better decisions?

So, when investing in areas they don’t really know, investors should research the different property Class submarkets.

Consider reaching out to private lenders, accredited investors, or real estate crowdfunding platforms.

BiggerPockets is full of resources designed to help you along your journey, whether you are just getting started or a seasoned investor.