Would love to connect with local RE agents and have an idea of the market situation in SA.

Start by getting familiar with your local market.

Hey @Aaron Price, I think the best way you can get started in real estate is to reach out to local investor-friendly agents in your market.

I can put in touch with a couple of local insurance agencies.  

Definitely join your local chapter of REIA (real estate investors association) or join one of the ones that are fully online (Columbus and Cincinnati).

—it’s also about reliability, attention to detail, and someone who just “gets” your space and your guests’ expectations.Do you have any hidden gems, local recommendations, or tips to share?

A successful rental property should offer positive cash flow, meaning your rental income should exceed your monthly expenses (mortgage, taxes, insurance, maintenance, etc.).To find the right tenants, ensure the property is priced competitively within the local rental market.

Thanks Sarah, I don’t see much house hacking going on in Essex or Dundalk in terms of listings on Zillow or FB so my concern would be finding professional adult roommates that want to house share in that area. i’ve been following a lot of the midterm rental groups in Facebook and the consensus is that contracts have decreased significantly and hospitals are using more local labor pools.

Allen, go out of your local area to invest.  

Find them at local real estate meetups, but be careful, it's a sketchy business overall.