Auction Sites or Distressed Property Listings: Sites like Auction.com or Hubzu sometimes list properties that need work but are in decent locations and within budget.Given your experience with renovations and your budget, exploring these options might get you closer to what you're looking for without having to compromise on property age or potential renovation challenges.

The Long-Distance Real Estate Investing book is a great one to get the lay of the land on doing it from afar, but getting on-site experience will also be important in your journey.

How much of your free-time goes into research versus actual hands-on work on-site?

Quote from @Brett Deas: What is everyones biggest struggle with the current mid-term listing sites (furnished finders, Airbnb etc.)? 

Look them up on the tax records for free and then use a free site like Spokeo to search info on the owner.

I had to hire someone to deliver those to the site.

Here's a link to the bill: https://beachrentals.penfedrealty.com/sites/default/files/ar...  

Just got an inquiry in an REO group I host about a VA Vendee loan. 

Online, I actually don’t remember the original site I was on-one of the big ones which led me to a desert land site where one woman who owned a lot of San Bernadino land was selling.

They let my on-site manager know they were going to "take a trip for a birthday party" and have not returned.