Quote from @Gregory Schwartz: A local agent recently got sued for calling an old client who was on the Do Not Call list.

They can offer valuable insights into the local market, potential rental yields, and specific considerations for a rehab project like the one you're planning.

As a beginner investor based in the Seattle metro area, I'm eager to learn from your experiences and share my journey as I get started in this field.My current strategy is to focus on live-and-flip for the first three deals (looking for my second deal) to gain hands-on experience while building equity and learning the ins and outs of renovation and the local market. 

*I know the markets really well even better than some local agents.

Call every local investor agenda (look at the agents that have investment property listings and call them) and call every local landlord that owns multiple properties (you can get lists off of Deal Machine).

I’ve built strong relationships with local agents and other investors in the Hamptons, which helped me discover this off-market property.

Hopefully, this is a useful example of what’s achievable with out-of-state investing, even with no local connections. 

If the tenant fails to provide proof, I would reach out to a local attorney about handling the lease violation appropriately, especially since Texas has specific landlord-tenant laws.

I suggest you start with developers in your local area (your county and neighboring counties level) because they would be your most likely partner or parcel buyer. 

Right now there's huge concentration, but as this continues to build out and we see north of the high 30s GW by 10 years from now it'll be almost a requirement to keep some type of locality based risk assessment and to diversify.