I have a friend that is pleased with his PM in the area.

If you want DM me and I'll connect you.Then find an investor friendly agent with experience closing VA loans who will help you find the right small-multifamily property.

There are a lot of HOAs there, but they tend to be STR-friendly.

For example, friends and family have invested in my properties, which has been great for their needs - ask around your friends and acquaintances you already trust to see what opportunities are there.

I’m focused on tourist-friendly areas (Bay Area, North Tahoe and primarily Sacramento) I have a few apartments interested in learning more about my plan.

Join off-market Facebook groups and local RE investor FB groups to get more local information about potential off-market properties, and find investor-friendly RE agents who are willing to work with you.I would recommend for a first deal at least to get something closer to home, easier to get back and forth to for your own sanity, ability to check on either construction or tenants, address repair and maintenance issues.

Especially in a tenant-friendly state.I recommend looking for an attorney with a LOT of eviction experience.

A friend of mine is looking for PMs in Cleveland. 

This is what causes people to not call ever and to have friends fix stuff the wrong way.If they want something checked out and then it turns out to be fine, maybe then a service call would be warranted, but not every time especially when they are service issues that are on you.$250 a call for someone is insane.

Verifying rental history often takes a long time to complete due to applicants not giving us correct landlord contact information, landlords not returning our calls or refusing to give us any details.We also deal with applicants trying to have family or friends pose as their landlords.