Do you have any advice on how to find and select a loxal group/meetup? 

To avoid going through the same poor experience, keep reading.Even if someone gives you a referral here, do NOT make the mistake of assuming that the PMC will meet your expectations, just because they met the expectations of the referral source.In our experience, the #1 mistake owners make when selecting a Property Management Company (PMC) is ASSUMING instead of CONFIRMING.It's often a case of not doing enough research, as they don't know what they don't know!

That might take care of your mortgage and leave you with enough cash to get something else.Or......

The best thing you can have is good section 8 tenants who respect and take care of your place.

PM me I will take care of you. 

With a budget of $130k I would make sure that you still have at least 6 months of reserves after the purchase.I would also be careful in certain areas where the cash-flow looks too good to be true..

They have helped over 100 people in the past 12 years restore their lives, and reclaim children from foster care, rebuild families, and return to the job market. 

A good rule of thumb is this:  Be careful and fully understand the risks of "getting in bed with the government". 

Now we are getting started in Birmingham AL (my mom's birthplace) and are excited to branch out to select areas in the South over the next few years.I am starting off with flips, but will transition soon to rentals using a BRRR strategy.

After talking to Latchel and trying to get it figured out, I told them I would take care of it myself because they have been completely incapable of solving the problem.