The foreclosure attorneys discovered that property deeds were sold without my knowledge, and the new LLC owners could not be contacted. 

AND just because you have experience and a “good deal” doesn’t mean you will be successful trying to syndicate the deal.The first criteria is does the sponsor have the general knowledge and experience in real estate, and the specific knowledge and experience in the property type/location to give the project the best shot at success?  

The BiggerPockets community is great for guidance, but nothing beats local mentorship.

Yeah I’d be more comfortable investing locally but I’m going to begin analyzing deals.

See if you can find a local credit union that is willing to work with you. 

Meaning being a developer is actually possible for a local to develop in their own backyard. 

You’re in an ideal market for growth—DFW is full of active investors and countless networking opportunities through local meetups.

But for the last 3-4 years local residents have decided it was cheaper to just take the groceries. 

I'd definitely connect.Otherwise, your best bet might be a local or regional bank

You'll need a good local management company.