I am going to start searching for my first home soon.

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@Jason DiClemente I purchased the property in all cash...It seems to me from searching around BP that with a cash purchase the seasoning period may not even be needed? 

title search.. unless only attorneys allowed to search you should be able to search yourself..

I have tried searching online along with trying to talk with people that I see around job sites but have not had much luck.

I don't even know how one would typically conduct a search for a place.

Through research and learning, I compiled a list of criteria for selecting a market, as well as a list of markets, largely based on this article.

I've enrolled in an inexpensive course on analyzing real estate investments and have set up various online saved searches to forward me houses that meet certain criteria. 

Since this is for smaller properties, you can search for local vendors that specialize in this as well.

I submitted an online application to BBVA and got an email stating approved amount of $44K, this is before title search and their property value check.