Any referrals given we would be out of state, and would need to depend on a partner for both buying as well as PM services.Thanks a lot for your time and inputs!

If you have a rolodex of people that you can call for advice and referrals is huge.

I don't have a referral for you as I'm in a different part of the state.

Does anyone have a referral in Tampa, Clearwater, or Jacksonville? 

Find a local investor friendly Realtor, ask them for a referral to a quality local property manager and have them help you find a duplex that needs some cosmetic updates.

Paging @Michael Thach - Would you please give Hardy a referral to your electrician?

I have a "notebook" (that's basically a file folder, in Evernote) for different types of info I want to have access to later: lender info, referrals for service providers, property listings that I come across and want to check out later, websites that have demographic info... all sorts of things.

If anyone could provide some insight into where the best zip codes to invest would be and also any referrals to boots on the ground would be amazing!

The biggest obstacle to overcome by far, is not so much that you need to find clients (although believe me, that's also difficult and is a constant effort until you're able to rely on referrals from past clients), but the customers you interact with need to trust you with their largest asset as a seller, and for one of the largest purchases they will make in their lives as a buyer. 

I am very active and connected in the Milwaukee/SE WI market and run several investor groups where we keep each other aware of referrals and people/companies to be wary of.