Where to start my portfolio?

[Bret Halsey]

I've decided to look to buy my first true investment property in the near future and despite knowing how to run the numbers, I'm having a difficult time deciding where I should be looking to buy. I'm considering either a small multifamily (duplex or fourplex) or perhaps a single family that will be easy to rent and cash flow. Where I live is way too expensive to cash flow so I was thinking a landlord friendly state in the midwest, something with plenty of inventory for me to find a good deal but also strong rental demand. For those who invested out of state, how did you decide on your market? Where are some good areas I should check out?