If you are a Pro or a Plus member than you can also advertise in the marketplace.http://www.biggerpockets.com/pro You can request more colleaguesSet up a signature to draw potential clients to your pageAdvertise once every five days in the marketplaceSearch for local investors, and see who viewed your pageSet up additional keyword alerts.NOW THAT YOU ARE ALL SET UP, TIME TO START CONNECTING, AND POSTING!!!

Never show all your cards.

In addition to the five new friends that I just made over the last twenty minutes on BP!  

Start with figuring out your business model and desired goals for the next year and five years and then ten. 

I currently have 5 rentals, but have a very similar goal of expanding quickly within the next five years.

I think the following in section WAC 308-124A-713 explains it.(7) Five years' experience in real estate investment, property management, or analysis of investments or business opportunities.  

I also have access to helocs and I'm always getting offers for no interest for 18 month credit cards so I would absolutely consider dipping into my reserve fund if I was a few $k short on a great deal.I think it's about your personal comfort level and risk tolerance

The little amount of research I've done has led me here - it seems like there are many people on this site that are willing to help.My husband and I purchased our (1800 sq ft) home five years ago, and when we moved in we did not realize that the house next door had been vacant for the past year.

I've now owned 5 fourplexes in Colorado Springs and I found all of them by sending post cards to owners of properties in areas I was interested in.

We fortunately/unfortunately live in a high priced market.Frankly, this is the prime reason why I elected to move my REI business out of state.It's not practical for everyone, but, an option that you may want to consider in parallel with upstate investing.However, don't be disheartened you have to play with the deck of cards served and find a way to win!