To invest out of state successfully, focus on building a strong local team (agent, PM, contractors), automating deal analysis, and using contingencies to protect yourself.

There are some programs through local government systems where you may be able to receive a tax abatement or grant here in Michigan in an effort to help beautify a neighborhood.

As for meeting local wholesalers, networking at meetups or even online could help you connect with the right people. 

Listen to as many podcasts as you can and attend all of your local meetups to connect with other investors.

Reach out me as I am a local Realtor and can assist you!

We've worked with local banks and been able to finance the three we own without any issues.I don't necessarily know if it's "beginner" investor friendly but you'll learn everything you need in the bootcamp which is the gold standardWe get loans with 3-7 year balloons and 25 year amortization typically

I'm a local youth pastor in MN and I'm looking into getting started in real estate so that I can provide extra income for my growing family.

I highly recommend investing in a property management software, such as Hospitable, for syncing your calendar, automating messaging, and scheduling cleans, as well as a dynamic pricing tool, such as PriceLabs, for optimizing your pricing based on market demand, local events, and seasonality. 

Since I'm not a pigeon forge local, I also don't have a good feel for the appropriate cost of goods and services either.While I don't necessarily suspect anything nefarious from the management company, I don't now that our financial incentives are always well-aligned. 

If you want to network or ask specific questions about your local market, go to your local real estate forum and connect with investors from your area: https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/86-local-real-estate-networking5.