If you do not embody all 3, your words here are meaningless. 

Hopefully he will eventually see the advantages as time goes on.

It is WAY to easy to take advantage of out of state investors. 

How many tenants are pauing 20%+ rates on car loans and being taken advantage of and being sold cars that are "lemons"? 

What advantage do you think this scenario brings for the seller/borrower?

We would only plan to manage our own properties.Would there be any tax advantages to starting our own property management company?

Take advantage of this, explore widely, and look for the right property at the right price.

I think you need to start by figuring out what you’re near term goals are - are you wanting to generate enough cash flow to offset W2 income, are you simply wanting to supplement your retirement, are you looking for significant tax advantages etc.

Speed is a key advantage in the fix-and-flip industry; the sooner an investor can secure a property, the faster they can start renovations and list it for resale.Additionally, an earnest money lending partner can provide valuable insights into financing options and investment strategies.

It’s also the career tenants who live in inexpensive housing because it’s all they can afford who are far more inclined to take advantage of liberal landlord tenant laws and that's going to be a minority of the tenant base if you invest in gateway cities.