@Vikram Puri - CT taxes are very high, but if you are going to invest in the state, Hartford is not a terrible focus area.

As she personally knows the syndicator she may be able to garner far more info in conversations with them about this and other investments, which can give her an informational asymmetrical advantage over 99% of retail investors as well.  

Research all the top companies in the area - Lilly, Sales Force, Rolls Royce, various insurance companies. 

You are a great resource of knowledge for anyone looking to invest in tax liens in Alabama.  

Get out to meetups in your area and meet some other investors.

Its important to look at your metro area, but also at local neighborhoods, as they can differ quite a bit. 

Referalls from other investors, researching online and looking at reviews, and BiggerPockets suggested lenders are a few ways to connect with lenders.

I'll most likely fix and flip, but I'm also considering holding if the rental market is promising.Does anyone have experience in this area?

Quote from @Ralph Nagle: Quote from @Bob Stevens: Quote from @Ralph Nagle: What you ought to be asking is if you have the tools to flip profita ly, like the pros doing it in your area do, in the first place.

There are a couple of platforms and several hard money loan funds that have lower default rates.3) loan to value: they are one of the few remaining platforms that still has loans that are under 65% LTV.