To move forward, determine whether you prefer local or out-of-state investing, cash flow or appreciation, and self-management or hiring a property manager.Good luck!

Hiring a 20 year old agent is similar to hiring a 20 year old financial adviser.

The local who lives there but commutes 30-60 min to another community because they can’t find a job to support their family in their town.That same local knows that a 4plex would be great on that lot that’s been vacant for 20 years and that there are at least 4 families who could benefit greatly from that development.That local knows that Ryan’s plumbing and Katie’s electrical companies that service 75% of the town really needs a new flex space to use as a shop, storage, and parking for their business so that they aren’t working out of their garage and can hire a couple of locals to work with them at the office and in the field.Development is different in our small towns but if locals aren’t the ones doing it, and developers aren’t coming, what happens to our kids futures?

Hiring an assistant will take place once you have 75 - 100 doors, maybe more.

It is important that you hire professionals who have experience working with foreign investors.

@Andy Ptak when jumping into the industry you have a few choices:1) Start at the bottom2) Leverage your experience to convince someone to give you a chance3) Decide between:--- Big companies who will usually start you at the bottom--- Small companies that will more like to a chance on hiring you for an above entry level position.

BTW: most owners that have hired a PMC, don't want to speak with you, much less meet with you in person to hear a hyped-up sales pitch.Also, you want to do rental arbitrage - so, you will need to be properly licensed to manage properties you do not own as required by your state & local laws.- why would an owner want to do business with someone NOT properly licensed?

Could I instead hire foundation repair and soil stabilization services to prevent foundation issues?

On the other side of the spectrum you have the investors posting in these forums about the contractor who walk off the job and shares how they hired them to do a SFR gut reno with updating mechanicals, new roof etc. for $45k and is wondering why they are running into issues. 

Support - I hired an RE attorney @ $350 hourly.