You should check out the local REIA "Lexington Wealth Builders" and look into the SCORE program for mentoring.

May well be programs in other areas as well.

I would try to contact a RE trainer in the state. everyone has to get their RE training from someone and the top RE trainer in that state will know whose good and whose bad.

I got a 15k lesson in that one this last year and two other BP members got even more expensive lessons with this one frequent BP poster  :)  I can laugh because 15k is not going to change my life.. but other investors this could be serious Its why I am in the 1% of  BP frequent posters ( and it could be far less than 1%) that think that paid training is one of the best ways to actually get going in this business as opposed to thinking you can listen to a few pod cast read a few blogs read BP until your eyes bug out and your all of a sudden going to be a successful RE investor...

I heard that you can donate a house to a local fire department for a training.

As @Lumi Ispaswrote, the neighborhood is just NW of a super hot area in Chicago, its close to the train, I-90 highway, and bars/restuarants/coffee shops.

There are also individual training sessions on a variety of topics.

I've looked into these programs.

Off topic for the OP, sorry ... now back to your regularly scheduled program :) 

Find out what areas are good to invest in, that can collect the most rent and the crime rate for different areas. look for convenience, sub-way, bus, train, schools, even hospitals ( some people like to live close plus you may get Dr's and Nurses). here is a link that can help if you haven't gone to it yet: http://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2014/12/26/demographicstelling-real-estate-indicator-analyze-investing/