So in the meantime I'd like to start developing contacts and actually talk to people that want to talk real estate hahaSo being that I have about a 70-mile commute does anybody know of a real estate meetings in Manassas Culpeper Warrenton or Charlottesville that would be good for a new investor?

Next, call the parks within 5-10 miles that are similar parks.

If you know any other property owners in the neighborhood who recently completed a sale or refinance they will likely have a copy of the appraisal.Have your realtor pull all the sales comps within a mile or less and start picking the most similar properties in terms of square footage, bed/bath mix, etc. 

Purchase price: $124,000 Cash invested: $12,400 Sale price: $155,000 Interesting property: Was a growing trend in south east; SHOUSE, or Shop House.

Many good and bad areas. some of them only a mile away from each other.

@Miles StanleyPerhaps you should go to some open houses in the area on the weekend and meet some brokers that way.

This is why it is crucial to align with a team that has your best interest in mind (longevity of the asset & relationship) and can assist you in making decisions from hundreds or even thousands of miles away.

At meetup.com type in real estate  and how many miles you are willing to travel.

Plus the units I was looking a purchasing are with in 1 mile of a university, so I feel like they should rent really pretty easy each one is a 3 bed 2 bath with an attached garage.

I owned a 4 acre property out in the country, however it was 20 miles from me.