If so, I would appreciate hearing your thoughts and experiences regarding the local market, investment opportunities, and overall outlook for the area

I stopped buying because the market became too expensive and competitive in my area at the time. 

Or maybe certain markets or property types you’re curious about?

At the time, rents were below market at $750 and $820, while comparable units were renting for around $1,000.

Quote from @Kaleb Johnson: The issue is that you cant cold call people in New York  You cant cold call but you can definitely do SMS marketing and find your ideal sellers for wholesaling.

If you don’t have a strong marketing system, it’s a grind.

I suspect maybe something like Hagerstown or Cumberland, which yeah are Class D like markets with declining populations, high drug problems, no strong job base which leads to non paying tenants.

Hey @Paul LaValley welcome to the forums, and phoenix and Tucson are great markets, what makes you interested in those markets specifically?

You’ve already got a solid foundation—understanding market trends, deal structuring, and negotiations will give you a great head start.I would recommend focusing on learning one niche at a time.

With rates where they are, I'd expect you don't plan to be in the mortgage for more than 3–5 years (maybe less) depending on where the bond market goes.