Still worth exploring if you have the time and want to save the 1% fee paid to a broker. 

With $50k, you can start with 2-3 properties and scale up by reinvesting profits or exploring creative financing options.

I've been doing these things & will continue while also exploring backup possibilities. 

@Christopher DavisRecommend exploring as many sources as possible to get referrals AND cross-reference them to get as much accurate information as possible.Check out NARPM.com, BP’s Property Manager Finder (BiggerPockets: The Real Estate Investing Social Network), etc.Also, encourage you to learn from the mistakes of others - by reading posts here on BiggerPockets about owners not having their expectations met by their current Property Management Company.

Since it sounds like your job is flexible and you can work remotely, explore the option of staying here for several weeks to perform your due diligence. 

I'll explore it further.

It's like trying to keep 13-year old brothers & sisters from fighting as they try to assert & explore their individuality & freedoms.

I'm a sole proprietor and am exploring ways to diversify some of my existing retirement funds.

@Akku Kumar, I concur with exploring house hacking your first deal.

I’ve recently started exploring real estate investing as a path to financial freedom and am interested in the South Florida market.