Finding areas to investigate for new Long Distance Investor

[Michael Kuznetz]

Hi all and thanks in advance for your feedback.  
What advice would you give a new investor looking to find out of state opportunities? 
How would you go about narrowing down the country if your plan was to find a property and get it rental ready for under 130k, no loans, with the intention of a minimum of 9% COC return?  With no local connections in any possible markets, is it a matter of hopping around the country on Zillow and comparing home prices and rents or are there ways to streamline the process?

Thanks!!