The demand for vacation there is huge due to lakes, ski resorts, casinos, hiking, hunting etc. 

That said, I've been doing some browsing of properties in other states that seem within my budget but given I'm inexperienced, I'm hesitant on that front as well.

During this time he should be spending at least a half an hour to an hour a day browsing zillow and analyzing deals to start building that muscle.

Ill admit i was browsing on Facebook for solar companies in chicago and always asked the following:1.

Quote from @Dominick Di Fiore:Zestimate rental monthly is $2,100 but I'm not super aware of rental pricing here.You can get a clearer sense of this by pretending to be a renter, going to Zillow Rentals and browsing.

I've never experienced "abandonment", but DJT casinos apparently fit? 

Time spent reading biggerpockets, browsing the MLS, crunching numbers on potential properties, watching RE videos on YouTube...those are not rental real estate trade or business hours.Hours spent bookkeeping for the rental, interfacing with your PM, interfacing with contractors, interfacing with tenants, etc are generally ordinary and necessary rental real estate trade or business functions.Income tax law is complex. 

My name is Eric and I’ve been on Bigger Pockets browsing forums for some time and thought to finally get out my shell to introduce myself.

Browse the forum and contact those who you like.That said, right now is an absolutely crazy time.

It won't show you all of them but it will let you browse a few. the best advise is to find a commercial realtor and let them show you around.