I'd start by refining your search criteria, researching the surrounding markets, and comparing them to what best fits your needs, etc. 

It was honestly luck, I didn't know much about real estate I just knew I needed a house that was unappealing to others to be able to buy it and have it fit in our budget.

I designed a little U-shaped kitchen to fit right in the space.

You can visit the property, contractors, etc where as Detroit will either involve longer travel or trusting someone on the ground when you arent physically there.

Just so you know you can use a USPS PO Box as a physical street address now and receive UPS and Fedex there also. https://ribbs.usps.gov/index.cfm?

If you're planning to rehab properties for rental or flipping, a hard money lender might be the right fit.

Generic replacement parts that fit American Standard can be found anywhere.Don't buy the cheap $90 toilets.

It is pretty easy to keep it fully occupied but it does mean I turn away a ton of people who want a lease that doesn't quite fit my requirements. 

@Jemini LeckieIf investing locally is not in the cards I would do some research and pin point a market that fits what you are looking for and then reach out in the forums for that specific market and ask more detailed questions.

That will largely help to determine the right fit in the landlord market for someone with a portfolio.