Hi Victor, You should talk to a local lender about a bank statement loan program.

They should be able to point you in the direction of someone local and have an idea of what the cost is.

I'm not sure if I am going to start local (since the market is so high here) or if I am going to go OOS.

I was just at a capital raising event in New York City pitching miami and columbus. by far there is more interest in miami for development, land entitlement, etc. you also aren't local so I'd discount what you say by like 80%. even if you are looking at "condo" investments, that's about the poorest way to invest in real estate so I'd say just you looking at that says something about your experience level. 

Very rarely will a bank bid on a tax foreclosure, if it happens it's usually small local banks who would rather have the county do the foreclosure instead of them.  

It has been recommended to attend a local meetup, but what do I say?

For the rentals, we always have a local "on call" relationship with a local investor to assist when needed.

Additionally, depending on your unique requirements and tastes, speaking with a local real estate agent might offer insightful advice.If you have more specific criteria or questions about any of these areas, feel free to share, and I can provide more targeted information. 

Local brokers in your market will know the current cap rates for the property class, mainly based on recent comparable sales.

I was filing with a local CPA (also a friend) and she was only charging about $800.