I know that the one I want to attend in Pleasant Hill Community Center has a room with seats.

I think between networking with other local investors (who you can meet at meetups) and speaking with/using an investor friendly agent who has househacked themselves or has intimate knowledge in the subject you should be good to go.

That was what the property was worth to ME at that point in time. 

Determine in advance of these meetings if you can / willing to give something of value in time, money, expertise, connections to them to help them grow their business in exchange for learning from them, profiting w/them (JV), etc.  

If I could go back in time and give myself some advice I would say, don't do it. 

BP episode 416 and the book, Crushing It, are huge inspirations for me and I feel confident about my vision in terms of acquiring commercial real estate and financial independence.At this point in time I am looking to build a team and to expand my local network in the Bay Area.

I think northern Alabama has more investors than available properties at this point in time.  

Most also stay local to one area or just a few areas that they have intimate market knowledge of, literally house by house and they have many personal connections in the market (PM's, trades, agents, title companies, lenders, birddogs/wholesalers, etc.).

They have done what they are supposed to by the contract (with the exception of the move-in inspection-and then lying about it), they just have not done anything well or without struggle, and are causing stress for the tenant and myself.. not criminal but not pleasant either.

'Double closing': Unlike an assignment you are physically going to own the property for a brief moment in time.