I'm a local real estate agent, Investor and developer. 

@Nick Causa - I'm local to central CT and invest/flip/run a property management company.  

Find a HML local to you.

Investor and agent local to Raleigh.

You just can't beat the loans you can get as a homeowner and with FHA (and some local banks) you can get owner occupied loans on property's up to a fourplex. 

Look on turnoor local FB groups.

There are some very good localized mentors that hang around BP and contribute with excellent advice and information on forums, podcasts, and articles.  

I'm not asking for a mentor, but just some advice from local investors in my market to help the new guy out with getting started.

Reno’s vacancy is 3-4% which is consistent with how the West is preforming.That 3-4% local data is from a separate source than this.  

It's like any other service.. are you looking to get coffee with a friend at the best local coffee shop (still expensive) or do you need to place an order with starbucks for a corporate event you are hosting.