Frequently attend these meetings, and become a regular. As you build your network, you will get insights to which parts of the city are going to be developed, therefore, which places are best for your future investments. If your city does not have a meetup, then go to the town hall meetings or other regular meetings that are open to the public and establish relationships with the other attendees. There is a high probability that they will talk about the city’s plans, and you will be able to purchase a property before they break ground and the general public learns of the plans.
