However, consider STR seasonality, local regulations, and management demands, and ensure your equity loan and new primary residence costs fit comfortably within your budget.

With that in mind, my first idea was to buy a condo or a house in my local area (Palm Springs, CA) and use it as a long term rental. 

@Ritu MahajanBuild a solid local team, including contractors, property managers, and lenders experienced with BRRRR.

I highly suggest getting to some local meetup groups...here is BPs list:  https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/521-real-estate-events-...I also have a full list of the chicago meetups that I can share with you too if that'd be helpful.

Please do this first:  contact the local Housing Authority office in your market area and obtain the landlord package.

I believe that you don't get returns (failed to deliver) with bulk mailers so you don't know which addresses are bad.That's the simple stuff.My advice is to do various mailings that you or some prepares locally, that go out immediately, using 1st class postage.

Hre are the key things to knowWhat you are bidding on - often oddball properties that are hard to identify and have little value are auctioned offThe true as is value of the property, The tax assessment can be way higher or way lower than the true as is valueThe local laws and how they affet your total costs and returns

Quote from @Michael Challenger: I would connect with local people at meetups, that might give you some contacts for private money.

One thing I really enjoy about what I do is I actually go out to all my markets spend time there and get to know the local areas etc.. thankfully the deals i did for this guy in SW WI I did as a capital partners so I owned them and did not have to foreclose or go through his probate etc..

Usually, the confidence comes from more reps (seeing more homes and being more of an asset hunter not a spreadsheet warrior) and going to local meetups so you can meet all the other people nearby who are doing what you can't get yourself to do.