Detroit is very much a block-by-block city, so having local knowledge is absolutely critical.

You must hire locals who are familiar and acclimated to the culture of the city you plan to create rentals in. 

Look for a local credit union that can offer a cash-out refinance once the work is done, ideally with minimal seasoning.

there are ways to get guidance, especially if you are local.

Quote from @Devin Slone: I live in Huntington and was looking for local meetups to go to and I just stumbled upon this post!

I also personally know students who have worked with Lee Arnold in my local area.

Should I find a local agent or use a lawer?

You will need someone more local who is incentivized to be available to do showings and handle issues.

The 24.9% share is greater than the national average of 13.8%, according to CoworkingMag.The Austin metro had a 261% increase in teleworkers between 2014 and 2023, the report found, which is above the national average of 207%.https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/report-austin-leads-u...

I work for a local house flipper in the Greensboro area (Winston Salem).