Is there anyone in your local market you could take out to lunch who does flips?

Then, start building your connection with local agents, contractors and property managers.2. 

Please let me know if you need more info to create a clearer picture.Thank you.That is actually a good question to get advice from a local estate attorney on.

If you can invest locally, I'd recommend doing that before investing out of state.

You picked a great community to join.. have you checked out local comps to gauge the market vibe yet?

There are many local real estate investor groups or associations.

Try to get preapproved from a local loan broker or Co-op. 

We get granite for around $40/ft installed from a local shop. 

Here are additional comments:1) Buying out of state removes any local knowledge you have from assisting in your success, including knowing areas, people and costs. - We always recommend buying your first rental locally if possible and DIY managing to learn as much as possible before investing OOS.2) Lots of crooks and incompetents in the PMC world:( They both cost you money.- As already stated, you'll have a small portfolio.

local REIA groups are filled with investors looking to buy properties.