@Rosmery ThenMy partner and I are in the same situation, just he has 20 years of construction and development experience.

To avoid going through the same poor experience, keep reading.Even if someone gives you a referral here, do NOT make the mistake of assuming that the PMC will meet your expectations, just because they met the expectations of the referral source.In our experience, the #1 mistake owners make when selecting a Property Management Company (PMC) is ASSUMING instead of CONFIRMING.It's often a case of not doing enough research, as they don't know what they don't know!

So, it's still NOT a good idea to try to invest by zip codes - which are too big in our opinion/experience.

I have sold a couple of businesses as well, and speaking from experience, you are never more vulnerable to make a mistake than when you are sitting on a giant pile of cash.Also, I agree with @Corey Conklin - I'm a big fan of "overflow cities/towns" in the sun belt.

I feel like my "circle of people" really needs an expansion and improvement and I want someone with more experience in the field I want to be in to really help me gain myself to success!

Our strategy is to buy out of shape properties and rehab them back into shape, so a GC with experience in doing extensive renovations at once would be preferred.

I'd  love to hear your feedback and experience if you have any.

I'm interested in investing in rental properties around Columbia as well, I'd love to connect with fellow investors and/or agents with experience working with investors.

@Aubrey Eblin Thank you very much for sharing your experience with the Rent To Retirement Academy. 

Let’s share our experiences so we can all navigate these challenges more effectively!