In 2016 my parents loaned me the down payment for a rental property ($150k toward a $600k duplex in a midsize East Coast city).

Hi January.  4 BR home in Seacrest, its south of 98 on the east end next to Rosemary. 

I own a property with my significant other in Norfolk and it's perfectly in the middle of more than one base.

There is more that goes into it but you are essentially a middle man.For fix and flips you don't need a credit if you make relationships with asset based hard money lenders.

My other rental people ask for a lower price and I meet in the middle.

It's somewhere in the middle. 

Wynwood we have a site identified and little river has a million great deals unbelievable zip code. 33138 and 33150 two of the best zips east of 95 right now and north Beach too. we focus on density and multi 

If you really want to purchase out of state, try to purchase without selling this property because it would be a shame to sell an asset in a prime location in exchange for a secondary or tertiary market in the middle of nowhere.In the long run your overall appreciation and cashflow will be higher than just about any market you decide to go to. 

I've been on the Mortgage Shop website but it doesn't mention which states they lend in and all their references are to "east coast."

Its @Ned Carey 1000 Degree's the opposite as what happens in Tax Lien states and especially in the rust belt and back east..