Not only are they knowledgeable but they can potentially get your plans through quicker. 

Specifically, I’m drawn to distressed properties, such as pre-foreclosures and foreclosures, because of their potential for strong returns and lower acquisition costs which I feel is a great combination for a new investor with my budget.That said, entering the U.S. market as a Canadian comes with its own set of challenges, and I want to make sure I’m approaching this the right way.

I started marketing on multifamily trying to find potential good sellers.

I'd like some input on wrapping my head around a potential first house and if this sort of deal/rent makes sense.

You'll have quality tenants, minimal hands-on management, and lower potential maintenance issues.

Because, think about it, if you are new what value are you bringing to the equation other than potentially money?

Validate zoning, potential special or use variance, future zoning map, neighboring zoning.

However, I have no idea how to choose from the remaining cities, it seems there are a lot of potential options:- Midwest - Michigan (ie: Grand Rapids) seems to have options, also seeing Columbus Ohio and Indianapolis coming up- Reno - I've seen mentioned several times on here- Pittsburgh / Philadelphia / Twin Cities - All mentioned as lower cost to get started, and seem to be experiencing growthI'd ideally like to find a place that has strong potential for future growth, a diversified economy, and I don't mind living in (being close to nature would be a plus). 

Below are the key factors companies consider when choosing a city for investment:Low operating costs: Companies are unlikely to choose a location where state income taxes, property taxes, and insurance consume a significant portion of their potential profit.

Also remember, you can NOT identify more than a certain number of POTENTIAL replacement properties, and they have to be within a certain percentage of value of the old property, and you can’t file this identifying paper and then change your mind.