Next, your realtor or PM should be able and willing to provide projections on the property, using a reliable software or other source.

Data sources are from Zillow.com/data, US Census Population growth, and ZIP code data sources (example within tabs). 

I'd start with a mortgage broker that can get loans from a number of bank sources.  

All of this info can be sourced from online platforms and articles, real estate investment meet-ups, and general networking with folks in the industry.Maybe studying all of this is unnecessary, but at the end of the day, the more you can perceive change in the RE space, the better you can adjust your strategy and criteria to profit in the market.

My 4th property I sourced and manage on my own, much more time consuming but much more cashflow too.

One source of cities to avoid is Neighborhood Scout's 100 most dangerous cities.

The proposed legislation eliminates the ability of suitable investors to participate in private capital-raising transactions through their IRAs, a source of funding on which many of these small businesses rely.

If LA, I can definitely help you with connecting to the right people/resources and sourcing properties.

This one was purchased with the sole intention of being a cash flowing investment property.

Maybe a dumb question with an obvious answer that I have overlooked, but does anyone have recommendations for good real estate news sources about market trends, developments, etc.?