Connect with like-minded investors, stay educated, and leverage your faith to stay persistent in real estate investing.Good luck!

But not having someone there with the properties interests in mind to verify the work being done is quality would personally make me uneasy.I would definitely look at a local PM for the long term and then after the first year and hopefully the first round of renewals you can make a more educated decision as to whether or not to keep them around.No matter what you decide to do, congratulations on the investment! 

What we did have in the way of real estate “education” was (1) the book “HOW I TURNED $1,000 INTO ONE MILLION IN REAL ESTATE IN MY SPARE TIME” by Bill Nickerson, (2) education provided by organizations to qualify for real estate brokerage licensing and (3) courses in real estate offered by collegesI found that because of the type of education provided we were much more knowledgeable about real estate FUNDAMENTALS, FINANCING, AND LAW than investors are these days.  

I've been watching a lot of BP videos and trying to educate myself on real estate business.

If you fall into one of those buckets that would be good information to include here, if you are looking for education that can actually hold some water you could obtain one of the bigger pm certificates, Certified Apartment Manager (CAM), Certified Property Manager (CPM), Master Property Manager (MPM).

The first step is to thoroughly educate on the space and the markets.

Whether you're looking to be an owner/operator or invest as a limited partner, it is essential to educate yourself.

I am looking to educate myself on the eviction process and find legal help that is reputable and experienced with this process. 

EDUCATE YOURSELF - yes, it will take time, but will lead to a selection that better meets your expectations & avoids potentially costly surprises!

As far as my education is concerned, I have a BA in Theatrical Studies with a minor in business.