Finding local markets

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Hello everybody.

This is my first post.  

I want to get involved in RE investing to generate cash flow.  So far I stared by reading books, listening to podcasts, and generally learning the lingo and trying to wrap my head around all of this.

Based on what I figured out so far, I am leaning towards buy and hold for cash flow strategy and I am leaning towards single or multi (2-3) family houses.  I realize that I will need to have several such investments eventually to achieve the cash flow that I am looking for.

In addition, I would have do out of state investing with property manager.  I live in NYC and absolutely cannot afford and don't want to invest here.

I have about $10-15K that I can put into my first investment.  I figured that something in the $50-70K range is where I want to start.  Also, it would have to be in property in a fairly decent shape so that I would have to do (or rather hire out) minimal updates. 

How can I go about narrowing down the markets where such RE can be found?  I know there are areas of the country where these prices are normal, but being from NYC I have no idea how to identify these areas?  Random googling and zillow browsing did not lead me to anything.

Any other suggestions that you can offer please do so.

And I do hope my plan (first time, out of state investment with property management) doesn't sound too unrealistic.  

Thank you