If you have trouble finding a lender, look to local community banks and credit unions.

National and local economic factors can definitely impact real estate. 

@Jahangir Hasanovthose low price points are tempting for a reason... probably lots of deferred maintenance and potentially in more challenging neighborhoods.if you think you're going to buy a random property off Zillow and start cash flowing in month 1 or even year 1... buckle up.i strongly recommend you start with a house hack locally instead. 

First time posting here - have been listening to Bigger Pockets for a few years now Just wanted to see if there are any local st pete meet ups ?

Zoned commercially for a 4-story building, currently a 2-story buildingI'm not so concerned about the pricing here, rather just looking to get local, hands-on knowledge and expert insight into the area.

We are looking to partner with local Realtors to grow our company.

If the rental market is not favorable, you’ll likely see less investor activity and therefore less potential buyersAvailability of Data and ResourcesAccess to market data and networking resources can be a huge benefitConsider things like; access to county/court data, is it a non disclosure state, etcCommunity and Economic Trends Understanding local trends/issues can provide crucial insight into your target marketYou can operate virtually, but it’s still important to develop expertise in your target market*** Good market selection is not a guarantee of success.

Attend some REI meetups in your area and join local investor FB groups.

Also a housing shortage for local workers so there are efforts to create more long term rentals.

I pick up about 7 or 8 game discs from the local resell store for usually $5 or less.