Local meetups, REIA groups, coffee with brokers and lenders, professors in the local university (I think most business schools these days have real estate programs).Finally, be active here, listen to podcasts, read books, etc.

@Elena Casey, @Jonathan Greene and others are able to able to spit out so many factors to consider because they have already learnt from the school of hard knocks.

I just graduated college a few weeks ago and now looking for an investor friendly local firm to join.

School system isn’t good but close to some big employers (hospitals) as well as a few areas with a good amount of restaurants/bars.Asking $89k.

Purchase price: $187,000 Sale price: $187,000 House in Great Location, Near Schools Churches, and Near freeways.

Looking at rents in the area if we rented the basement besides living there right now we could get 800 or 900 I believe once we do the renovations it will bring the rent up to 1,000-1,100 max because newly married couples in school are looking for the cheapest but “cute” place.

I am just out of grad school living in Denver.

I went to school for architecture.

It's in a quiet town extremely close to Des Moines Metro and in a good school district.

Review after a year to see what is working and what is not and refocus if you need to or add another niche or replace one.Typically your best resource is your network...so friends, family, school mates, past work mates...people who know, love, and trust you.