We too like the $50k range, though you can get a couple juniors for the $30k range, though we always keep $5k in reserves for expenses & foreclosure if needed.

You can attend a BP networking meeting, or any of the Tarrant county REI to start with.

There's a BP get together group that meets once a month, you can attend a TREIA West event (near Cary), a TREIA main event, TREIA subgroup for newbies which Tim Masters runs....Triangle Deal Maker Sessions usually meets the first Monday of the month (it's the second Monday in September because of Labor Day)....

A couple comments to prior posts.

I have a follow-up and I'm attending one of their trainings this weekend to learn more about them.

They just built a couple of massive and mostly vacant apartment buildings downtown. 

Just started researching and reading about investing in real estate a couple weeks ago, and have been listening to the podcasts (which are awesome!).  

I've been involved with the lead issue since the beginning attending and speaking out at all the city council meetings and town hall meetings.

Were in the process of obtaining a couple consultants or 'mentors' and we are currently looking to go to a REI club meeting.  

In my market typically property management is about 5% ( I actually manage a couple properties now) - with that said should I factor in about half that for other costs?