Single-family homes and small multifamily properties are popular choices here.It's also a good idea to connect with local real estate groups or online communities for advice and to find good property managers.

You can also check their reviews online at Google, Facebook, or Yelp.

I read online that apparently for WA state there's a state and national broker exam.

You won't have an objective helper or a second set of eyes to catch things.

But, we still hire outside to make sure we don't miss anything.If we had not hired an inspector when we first started, we would have not caught countless items, and would have overpaid on every deal.If you're going to hire a property manager, and expect them to give you an objective analysis, good luck.

You can also check their reviews online at Google, Facebook, or Yelp.

A good property manager can handle tenant issues and reduce your hands-on involvement.Building a Network: While you don’t currently have local connections, networking with other investors, attending real estate meetups, or joining online communities can provide valuable insights and opportunities.The next steps depend on your financing options, preferred markets, and whether you’re willing to manage tenants directly or prefer to stay hands-off.

You can probably find most of the books online like Amazon or someplace local like 1/2 priced books. 

Check out other online guides available here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/guides3.

For example, Brandon Turner was great as a podcast host that helped a lot of people and now seems like another slimy online guru who is better at promoting and fund raising than being a good operator.