You can find local groups here on BP under "Network" > "Events". 

It's all about being in the game, keeping  your mind focused and networking. 

Get deals done right and network with seasoned investors right here on Bigger Pockets.

Since you have so much lead time between now and when you want to purchase you next deal, I would spend it doing two things: Building your network, and learning your area.I would join your local REIA and go to all of the meet-ups you can to meet the players in your area and see if there is a niche that is under-served or if there are investors that you can start working with/partnering with now that doesn't cost you money out of pocket.

Hello my name is Greg I’m 35 years old I’m from the Southern California area I am new to the Real estate industry a few months ago I bought it and flipped my property in the city of Compton California my goal is to continue searching for property’s and Networking with different flippers and investors and building my portfolio for the past 11 years I have been in transportation industry I’m looking forward to this new journey ahead.

howdy bigger pockets long time Midwesterner here. just moved to Milwaukee a few months ago starting school at msoe pretty soon. I'm looking to meet some landlords here and understanding more about the market. I wouldn...

South Atlanta REIA and GAREIA are great networking groups along with the meetup in Dunwoody area that organizes through BP.

And it gives a range and median, so if your unit is particularly remodeled and nice you can use the upper end of that range as an estimate, or if your unit is particularly small or a little rough around the edges you can use the lower end of that range to estimate market rent for that unit.MLS could be useful too because you can view the non-active (presumably rented) listings as opposed to the active ones, but you'll need to network with a licensed agent who has MLS access in that market and have them run those numbers for you.

Give it some time and them move to another market if the first one doesn't prove promising, rather than focus on several at once.I've managed to network via friends, friends of friends, or work acquaintances into a trusted realtor in my chosen market who could jump start things. 

I've been on BP for a while now, but my family and I just moved up to the Granger/Mishawaka, IN area for a few months and I thought I'd reach out on BP to see if there are any other people in real estate in the area (investors, brokers, anyone interested in RE) who would like to meet up and network in the next few weeks.