I would suggest leveraging resources like BP and Google in developing your investment criteria, goals, objectives and constraints. 

I've done a lot of development and real estate in Redding, and surrounding areas over the years, and I KNOW that area in and out, and see some great opportunities for buy/hold. 

I tend to work with military communities for rentals and flips, but I am always looking to learn a few more techniques to make some extra coin.

A VP of business development for Chase came by our business unannounced, wanted to speak to the owner or manager.

I would recommend while you're searching for a good broker you develop a set of preferred criteria you're seeking.

I do know of some folks that are developing communities of fourplexes in fast growing suburbs. 

Its going through a lot of development, and flip prices are definitely starting to go up, the problem is most of the properties were built as 2bd properties, so you would have to add a 3rd bd in the basement and a lot of the properties are not dug out and underpinned in the basement. 

I live with my wife and 2.5 children (there's one in development!)

It is critical to develop an intimate connection with your market, get to know every town and sub market.

And I realize there are some major forces at play in massive development projects that are the basis for these stats of less apartments.