As of now, my general plan is to find a local realtor online who is experienced with real estate investing (and has investment properties of their own) to help me find a good local deal (goal is 20-25% return on ARV), get a hard money loan, aiming to rehab/repair/extend the property with my father (both have construction experience) within 4-5 months, and as for the loan exit strategy either sell or rent (depending on the deal). 

. - We don't have a "Rep" at MSI Chicago because they are so big and just do everything online - at least from our experience.  

-based, Associate Digital Bookkeeper certified, QuickBooks Online Pro Advisor certified, & Bookkeeping for Real Estate Investors certified.

It takes 30-45 days, can be done online and needs to be renewed annually.

There's quite a few of us here so dont be a stranger!

Invested $40,000 with the online store.   

I want to jump in that hot tub with my kids after 8 other strangers have been in that same water doing who knows what - said no one EVER.4) Depending on the market you are in, it may be required to drain, clean and refill after every guest.I have 4 hot tubs and two of them are on wells.  

Good opportunities, early stage opportunities, may not have the best online presence, but be otherwise legitimate.Also IRR is a vanity metric, it's the wrong measurement.

I understand Google continues to push into this space and disrupt the online travel agencies, so the landscape might be changing. 

You are just starting out. you want to invest out of state, not locally.You want to skirt/evade the law.You want to engage in a rent model that requires a hands on referee at all times, remotely.You want a rent model that has strangers living with each other, raping/murdering/stealing from/harassing each other, without any ability to intervene.