My suggestion  for you is to join some local REIA and find contractors there. 

Most local banks have an online banking option.

Join a Facebook group for AMSTRA to get a feel for and connect with others as well as attend monthly free meetup for Atlanta Real Estate Investing Meet up (formerly BiggerPockets meetup group).

Hi Cory - I think another good way to gauge demand is the check local real estate investment Facebook groups, especially those focused on your target clientele 

this is exactly what happened to a small investment group I helped bail out the best I could back in the 2006 ish. they attended a sub too Guru work shop back in 2004.. and went on to buy about 35 deals in portland sub too..

I am digging in to all the great info, here on BP, through books and locally as well! 

If so, is it seen as a risk due to localized natural causes?

Regardless, you will likely be adjusting the expense base to reflect the tax reassessment (which you can obtain from the local county), insurance (from your insurance broker quote), property management fee, and usual repair/maintenance expenses/admin/advertising/contract services/utilities.

I can get 30y just under 8% currently from my local bank (7,300/mo mortgage for $1 mil). 

@Noah Bacon I have a question there are 2 sessions , one Tuesday and Thursday are those two separate sessions that are to be attended or do you just pick one as it's the same content?