University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) has seen record enrollment in recent years: it set its highest attendance in history, with over 57,000 students enrolled and in 2024 just had highest freshman attendance in history and keeps growing, Carle Hospital, Craft Factory (Warren Buffett approves), etc for diversity of economic drivers.

You can meet local investors by registering to attend real estate events in your area: https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/521-events-and-happenings6.

There was always another book to read or seminar to attend in my search for the secret sauce.

You have come to the right place to begin your investing journey.Have you looked into attending local meetings and joining Facebook groups?

I recently attended a meeting with the Council or Elite Property Managers at the Pikes Peak Association of Realtors in Colorado Springs and was shocked at how many property managers were stating vacancies of over 5% - 7%! 

Attend the trainings, smile, bring donuts to your caseworker, etc.  

Attend local REI (Real Estate Investor) meetups and consider joining online communities like Bigger Pockets for continuous learning.Step 2: Be Strategic About WholesalingWholesaling can be a great way to generate capital, but it’s essential to fully understand the legal and logistical intricacies.

I attended a few meetups and, over time, built relationships with folks interseted in short-term investments.

Networking: Attend local real estate meetups or events to uncover off-market opportunities from fellow investors or agents.9.

And attend the appraisal inspection yourself.