New to Texas and looking to invest locally with not much capital

[Kat Owen]

Hi, recently moved to East Texas. I have one single-family rental in Washington state that I plan on keeping for a while and accruing equity. I would like to start adding to my portfolio with local single-family long-term rentals and manage myself to reach that "financial freedom" for my family. Would it be a good idea to become a real estate agent or property manager if I just want to invest? Or should I connect with a real estate agent to write contracts? I am not too familiar with short/medium term rentals or airbnbs. I would like to eventually get into multi-family after having a few doors to my name. I am constantly listening and trying to absorb knowledge from podcasts and forums but still kind of stumped when it comes to attaining capital... Are there local groups I can join? 

Thanks everyone for guidance and sharing the wealth of knowledge!

[Nathan Gesner]

Quote from @Kat Owen:

I would opt for property management. It produces stable income immediately and it trains you in the area most Landlords are weak: managing property. You'll quickly learn how to screen applications, deal with unpaid rent, inspect, the law, and so much more. You can learn how to build policies and procedures to effectively handle problems quickly and professionally. 

Sales agents can take a couple years to start earning a decent living, you probably won't make enough to invest, and if you're representing yourself then you'll be emotionally involved and not a very good/experienced agent (no offense).

Go to NETWORK at the top of your screen and you can search for other investors and investment groups in your area. You can also check meetup.com or search facebook for real estate investment groups, clubs, or meetings in your area.