My goal is to learn as much as I can from this site, network in my area with buyers and other investors and to begin wholesaling part-time.My long-term plan is use revenue from wholesaling to invest in rental properties.I do not think Central VA has an REIA branch (nearest is the Tidewater or NOVA groups which are really different demographics than Central VA), but I have joined the Meetup for RE investors and plan to participate as next dates are scheduled.

From my talks with various investors in the marketplace that do this the market and margins are razor thin right now for rehab and flipping especially the first time home buyer demographic.

I've spent years growing up riding my bike, working political campaigns walking door to door getting intimate with all the neighborhoods, years being a delivery driver for Jimmy Johns really getting to know the different types of neighbor hoods and demographics of each part of town.

was doing well with Single family vintage, eclectic restorations, so we went after same demographic on the residential rent side.

I find I can focus on area and demographics well.

I used to stagger rent since I rent to mostly a non-electronically-apt demographic, and it turned into them always needing until the end of the month anyway (my dates were like the 25th, 26th, etc). 

I need to remind myself that this is not NYC where vacancy is 1-2%.There is not much inventory right now in Blackrock and I still feel Bridgeport as a whole is too risky with the crime levels/tenant demographic.

Are they better for some demographics? 

I have been hearing about the bates Hendricks  have to check into that.. is there a certain demographic that has latched on to those areas.. like hipster or such

National lenders have their place but I tend to favor local lenders that have an intimate knowledge of the area, can give you solid market feed back, and understand the demographics of where you are looking to invest.