I'm looking to do a gut rehab on a 2-3 unit property in the next 6-12 months and am in the process of selecting my team.

And of course remember that the 1031 must be in place prior to the closing of the sale of your old property and there are some unique reinvestment requirements for the investment/1031 portion.  

I'll eliminate it a little further without giving up the whole idea.I understand it's unique, and it's difficult to find others who see enough potential to try something different. 

Any insights you could share on this would be greatly appreciated. all markets are unique.. we have one in Vegas FMR is 2200 or so.. furnished we get 3900 . minus utls. 

Looking online is better than nothing, but selected pictures never tell the full story. 

-Landlord reserves all rights to reject any or all applicants that does not meet the selection criteria set by the landlord.

Gulfport’s unique vibe is another area worth considering.Best,Jorge

What advice would you offer to someone with no experience to date with rentals in terms of selecting the best location to look for properties? 

The REI market in USVI is very unique as property values are being held down by economic pressures providing the opportunity for low buy in.Here's the link to the listing in case you are interested:  https://listings.coldwellbankervi.com/idx/details/listing/b3...

I wouldn't replicate someone else, but learn from them and add something unique.