I am an agent with a local real estate broker here in seattle washington, I have sololey concentrated my efforts on pre-foreclosure properties.

This area has the sixth highest concentration of Fortune 500 headquarters (Boston Globe article).  

You really should concentrate on off market properties.

Just keep your eyes open, study, show people you're serious, and try to concentrate on how you might be able to benefit other investors who are more experienced. 

If you are in the growing stage of your business would it be wiser to concentrate on that solely and wait for rentals until the business is doing awesome?

What I may do differently is more research about which blocks in the 40 block low income area are more stable than others and concentrate there, or after every 5 doors buy one non-low income property to improve the mix and sanity level.  

I’ve concentrated in South Lowell, but Lower Belvidere is attractive as well  I’d have to agree with you re: the screening process...we avoid vacancies like the plague, but will never short change our screening requirements!

@Lee Babin - Nice to see another member here from HRM.I have a similar story - long time lurker on the forums and have been concentrating on career and education till now (MBA, CPA).

I have a decent paying job making around sixty thousand a year but it's a very stressful and unfufilling job. my plan is to buy a duplex and house hack so I can afford to pursue a different career but not sure whether to be a real estate agent or broker. for now I'm just concentrating on saving some Capital for when the real estate corrects it's self I will be ready to buy

ERGO I think if one concentrates on Performing debt.. much easier to acquire and the returns a lot more consistent..