I've consistently written about the forces of nature and her current and future effects on the real estate market (even while often being ridiculed and politicized on this very site for it) regardless: I personally moved and invested in coastal Oregon in 2018 from Venice Beach Los Angeles partly as a result of the trajectory of climate and have assisted several clients that specifically purchased on the Oregon Coast for their own 'climate havens,' investment and future retirement homes. 

You'll find much greater difference in $$$$$ by refining your location/rehab/vacancy strategies instead of worrying about "how much it costs to borrow money" in this environment.Nearly all of my clients are more concerned with a simple and headache-free funding process, than the "lowest rate."

In a stable free economy the natural tendency is for prices to go down not up.

Its a slow learning process if you havent been in the lending, investing or real estate world before.

Although I saved 20-30k by doing everything myself and learned a ton in the process, doing that sucked up all my time and potentially stopped me from buying multiple multis last year.

Hearing it from someone else solidifies my thought process in analyzing the market.

You want both of them to be real estate experts so the process will be smooth. 

My professional background is data science / analytics, which means analyzing cash flows will probably come more naturally than building relationships, which apparently, is how one finds deals worth making.Are there meetups in these areas I should attend (digitally at first, presumably)? 

It can be discouraging for newcomers.Solution: Develop resilience and learn to view rejection as part of the process.

Each state might have different process.