Like many of my fellow newbie investors I scoured the internet trying to find whatever information I could on REI and I just so happened to see a link to a BP podcast on YouTube.

That's where I would start.Then ask everyone you know who does real estate in your area (hopefully there will be some response from local investors on this thread), try to get Home Depot to give you the names of some of their installers (they tend to make good handymen in my experience), visit your local REIA, stop by job sites as you're driving past and if the work looks good, get a card from the contractors, and as a last resort, start scouring Craigslist.You only need to find one great contractor.

Marc Cesar I just read some postings from @Eric Hettena 's link ( http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/93/topics/87122-how-to-work-with-re-agents-for-leads ) and there is a lot of good info on that thread pertaining to this post.Just think of what value you give them with your business model and what value they provide you - and make sure the are compensated for itThe gold is the MLS acess I am assuming you want Active leads as well as expireds.If you acquire acess to MLS you can scour though and analyze deals and systemize your offers.

They're already here reading posts, scouring the marketplace, and contributing experience.

As I'm  scouring the MLS for deals, I don't know the springs area well enough to know the good/bad neighborhoods, school districts, etc.

@David Krenz this might be obvious but scour the Meetups app if you haven't already.

Now I just scour the net and NAR listings for deals.

Brandon Turner I'm scouring MLS, LoopNet, etc. for land, can't help myself. :) Hey... my vote button isn't working :?

I am scouring the internet as well but I enjoy reading so I try to find anything I can to educate myself.

I’ve been scouring through this forum but I haven’t quite found which way to go.