Would very much appreciate opinions on whether Canton, Ohio is a good area for buy and hold or flipping, specifically within a few blocks of intersection of routes 43 and 172.  

Let them know - as specifically as possible - what you are trying to achieve.

And I don’t mean something like saying you want to invest in New York City, I mean an expert on specific neighborhoods you have chosen for a specific reason.

TY We released StateConcile.Com for that specific purpose.

Hey James, I'm sure you've found a solution by now considering this post is 2 years old, but for future reference here is what I have found as far as software solutions for managing a handful of rehab projects at once.Construction/Rehabbing Specific PM Software vs Generic PM SoftwaresWhen choosing your software solutions you will need to decide if you prefer a house flipping software that is specifically built for managing a house flipping business or use a generic project management software.  

I wanted to learn more about real estate investing in the Bay Area, specifically in the East Bay.

Additionally:Is there a specific state where it makes more sense to establish the holding company (now that anonymity in states like WY or DE isn’t the focus)?

If you want to be a passive investor, you need capital, information and a network, but you don't need specific advantage in real estate.  

@Gregory SchwartzWhat specifically are you hoping the software will do for you?

Separate the work into 3 separate categories: 1) Those that are specifically related to the future STR usage, 2) Those that benefit you while living in the house and have zero bearing on the future STR, 3) those that benefit both you and the future STR....assign a percentage to the usage.Be specific and complete.