starting out/need direction

[Mike C.]

Hi everyone,
As my title suggests, I am a beginner in real estate investing and I'm just looking for some direction.  My goal is to have a couple cash flowing rentals (out of state, as I currently live in an expensive state) in the next 3-5 years.  I have capital to invest and I also have a single family home.  My biggest problem right now is figuring out where do I start?  Do I just look around different cities looking for the "1%" rule and digging deeper into the financials?  Once that is achieved how do I find a trustworthy property manager, real estate agent and contractor?  Thank you for your time.  Any insight is GREATLY appreciated