Mike Hurney runs one you can also attend Black Diamond in Waltham and/or the NEREIA in Chelmsford. 

NPL's are a 'black box' to most people, even seasoned real estate investors, so it takes a fairly comprehensive education strategy to win-over anyone who may be able fund your deals.

New England REIA in Chelmsford is mostly no selling, you'll meet 30-40 people with lots of newbies and some regular experienced people@Justin Silverio runs a meetup that is free, I don't know what his attendance is, but he'll jump in and tell usMy Black Diamond is also free and meets next Tuesday, link in my profile. 

In terms of business and general investing, I took quite a few black eyes.

Most experts and advisors recommend a holding period of 12 months or more because it makes it easy to prove that you had the intent to hold, but it is not a black and white definition or test.

Closest ones to you would be the Boston Area REIA (Just changed locations to Medford) and the Black Diamond REI meeting in Waltham run by @Ann Bellamy .

Basically a lot of what I have been hearing/researching almost points to this "black box" that underwriters use to determine if you are approved or not. 

I spent part of the day hanging with my black cat!

If you're looking around the Asheville area, I'd also consider Brevard, Black Mountain, and Saluda in addition to Mars Hill. 

Black Stone Group is buying 15,000 homes in Tampa to rent.