Looking for first rental investment property, is out of State a good idea?

[Rahul Rawat]

We are looking to purchase a rental property with a positive cash flow, we reside in Jersey City and all the properties seem to be either out of our budget or not having a positive cash flow potential.

So as an alternative, we are considering purchasing out of state potentially in Florida or Texas. I wanted advice if, this would be a good idea as a first-time owner.

As a first step, we are thinking of finding a good agent in the areas we are interested in. Should this be the first step and if so what is the best way of finding a good agent?

Which areas or states would be a good opportunity for a first-time buyer and what are some basic things to keep in mind and be prepared for while buying the property and also during the first year?