I understand that at my age, focusing on properties with strong equity growth potential (even if cash flow isn't immediate) is a solid strategy.

I've consistently written about the forces of nature and her current and future effects on the real estate market (even while often being ridiculed and politicized on this very site for it) regardless: I personally moved and invested in coastal Oregon in 2018 from Venice Beach Los Angeles partly as a result of the trajectory of climate and have assisted several clients that specifically purchased on the Oregon Coast for their own 'climate havens,' investment and future retirement homes. 

For someone new to real estate investing that wants to do long term rentals, do you recommend starting off in an area close to them/an area they're familiar with or someplace that will give them the best return even if it's out of state. 2.

I MAYBE could understand if they just hadn't gotten around to having automated credit card tracking like every other accounting software on the planet, but to not even have the option to track them manually is ludicrous.  

Even the nicer homes don't rent for over $2,750 a month there.

I do have to pay 2.9% fees when I use it which makes it kinda not even worth doing in my opinion.  

It will be even harder as a young person with no life experience, and particularly no experience buying real estate. 

BiggerPockets also has a calculator to analyze deals, and I highly recommend you start this as soon as possible, even if you are not ready to buy.

Your best bet is to find and contact all of the top local wholesalers and go to work for one of them and see what they do right and wrong and see if it's even a business you like.

That makes me even more suspect but that is just me.