As to how would I go about learning the markets....research listed properties and those sold, population growth or decline, job increases or decreases and types of jobs, capital improvements by city/town, how are the schools, what's the typical sales price , what does the typical sales price house look like, what are typical rehab costs for that area, and the specifics from good neighborhoods and bad, etc etc.Do the items listed above change, of course but they don't tend to change overnight and the mentee would be shown how to get all of this information. 

San Jose and Oakland show similar slow growth in recent months.So what’s the moral of the story?

It's been immensely profitable.

Just looking for growth thank you in advance.

Anyway, my opinion , for what it is worth , is that we should all network with each and try to grow the profit pie.

I work with an agent on my wholesale deals and he helps me immensely with value of properties.

There are areas I don't like but others are very successful there.Some people look at unemployment and job growth, some look at population statistics, some look at development.  

Good schools and job growth?

Getting my CO was both an immense relief and slightly depressing at the same time. 

My thoughts were along those lines as well, with the idea being to hold some solid, cash-flowing rentals.I'm curious to know if other people are utilizing alternative strategies during slow economic growth conditions.