Just started our own firm investing in and managing property in our relatively new (~5 years now) home in Charleston, SC.Happy to be a resource to anyone and look forward to making quality local connections!

However, especially if the investor is buying in an area they are not familiar with, they probably will not know the nuances of the local area. 

I drop them and use a competent local RE agent, who did a great job.   

Hi Jerrell,  The best option for trying to get a HELOC on a property would be to check with local credit unions. 

The only inconvenience is I have to pay booking.com a commission at the end of the month, and I have to remit the local taxes myself vs.

I'd ask for referrals, and reach out to some local folks and see what is working and not.Best of luck!

Investors who are active in gathering data on local trends while working with knowledgeable agents are able to pick neighbourhoods poised for growth and also comprehend how to best mitigate their risks as they prepare to maximize their return.Myth 3: Distressed Properties Are in Bad LocationsAnother misconception is that distressed properties only exist in bad neighborhoods.

Looking forward to working and meeting everyone both local and non. 

As a General Contractor myself here in east central Texas, I can tell you that connecting with local GCs via Facebook groups can be incredibly helpful.

Using a local real estate lawyer is useful and cheap.