Also, ideally spending some time there and getting idea of what makes what valueable in the area helps as well.

There had been a 7 day rule that was going to limit rentals to one reservation every seven days and she (assistant director of planning) confirmed it had been removed from the proposal.

In any competitive market, consider Seniors with Long Time Ownership (ready to downsize or transition to assistance) and Homeowners with Low Financial Stability Scores (FSS).

Where would you recommend a newbie flipper spend the most time trying to find a deal? 

In hindsight that was a big mistake because properties I wouldn't spend $70K on, are now going for $150K and up. 

If for example it took 4 months and flipping is your full time gig that isn’t great because it means a profit of about $15,000 a year If it took two months and you have other income sources and didn’t end up spending much money on it and only put up a small amount of money then I’d say not too bad .I’m sure it was a good learning experience for you though and at least you didn’t lose money

My commissions have more than paid for then license and allowed me to spend a little more on deals than I normally would have since I get to factor in the commissions.

However, I wouldn't spend money simply to create a loss (spending a dollar to save 25 cents in taxes doesn't make sense). 

I've built a financial model that I help other investors analyze deals so let me know if I can be of any assistance.

Another association I belong to, Ive assisted with property tax appeals, connecting association with a capable law firm.