use the same parameters and due diligence you would if you were buying in your home town .. nothing magical.. 

We are 36 miles down lake from any major town.

There’s a few in town I certainly trust and a few I certainly avoid.

I also plan on contacting a few property managers in the area to see what renters are looking for in that part of town.

It's a special town and well situated for real estate investing with easy access to both the Baltimore and Washington DC metro areas. 

@Zoie Holley,IMO buying in a college town is a great idea, always have a transient population strictly wanting to rent for a few years!   

It's really a great house to raise a family, in a wonderful neighborhood in a great town (where I grew up) with fantastic schools. 

Check your local town bylaws to see what is possible in your area.

I am currently looking for real estate investing in Phoenix, Az.But, I am looking in Chicago Heights, Lansing, pretty much my home town to invest in.I wanted to know if there are any local mastermind meet ups to network and learn the current market in Chicagoland area.

The town told me that its NJ state law that for multifamily properties; 1) all renovations need to be completed by a contractor, including insulation and drywall. 2) signed architect drawings need to be submitted even though the the footprint is remaining the sameI'm waiting for the town's building official to get back to me with where the state requires this so I can read it for myself.