Finding wholesalersSome practical ways:Local Facebook investor groups (search “Central Illinois real estate investors”)BiggerPockets forums + local meetupsAsk agents & PMs who consistently see off-market dealsCall wholesalers even if they don’t have deals.

I am looking to relocate to one of those 2 locales, so I thought I should start investing there.

I can’t tell you which path to take, but here are a few ways to think about it:College can make sense if it’s affordable and gives you practical skills, a strong network, or a solid fallback career (finance, construction management, business, engineering).

In practice, many experienced sponsors start simple, keep the investor group tight and stable, and only step into formal Reg D territory when scale or investor turnover makes it necessary.

We do inspections up to quarterly but in practice twice a year on tenants that are rough on the unit and annually to tenants with a history of taking good care of the unit.  

Experienced investors can offer practical advice and share their experiences, helping you avoid common pitfalls.Understand Financing Options: Explore different financing options and find out what works best for your situation.

When I started many years ago, it was standard practice to stay away from rentals that had pools.

I may just take my money and go live like a king abroad and practice medicine where it matters - outside of a system regulated by insurance companies and corporations. 

Also ensure they are up-to-date on the most recent construction accounting practices, audit procedure and tax regulations.While price is a consideration for everyone, remember that the cheapest option is not usually the best option.

These other 2025 moving trend studies seem to've not put Oregon as the national lead for inbound movers, though included as one of the top ten in one of the studies...https://www.pods.com/blog/moving-trendshttps://www.movebuddha.com/blog/moving-trendshttps://murphymovers.com/blog/2025/july/where-are-americans-moving-in-2025-moving-trends-relocation-hotspots