Check with your broker and make sure this fits with your local laws.

Please advise.ThanksMel I'd recommend a local Independent Agency that has access to multiple markets including surplus lines

Otherwise, selling and using the proceeds to scale your portfolio locally could accelerate your long-term goals.

For several reasons (property taxes, politics), I would prefer to begin real estate investing somewhere other than locally. 

Do you rely on inspections, local contractors, the agent, or property managers to get eyes on it?

Suzanne, This is impressive - love to see deals being made in my local market.

I would join local business networking groups to get inside deals.

Hearing that you get bombarded with inquiries is great to hear and gives me more confidence in my local market for filling a demand.

The last one, however, started with many people from two certain neighborhoods, gathered by a local non-profit, who spoke much about affordable housing, being displaced, etc.

From what I've heard, local banks are sometimes more flexible than the big guys.A buddy of mine managed to snag a HELOC on his rental property, which isn't always straightforward, but it opened doors for him.