Engage an investor-focused realtor/broker in your preferred market (this is not a residential realtor) and start 'tire kicking' the market and properties that fit your criteria.

I would prefer to have control over my own property.

Do yall prefer Fix n Flips or Rentals? 

I currently live in New Britain, 06051, but prefer the other end of town closer to Central CT State University, 06053.

I am aware of companies like Pad Split, but would prefer to have a more traditional company overseeing the day to day since I am out of state the majority of the year.

Preferably looking for properties under $200k, but up to $300k.

In this room, I would have preferred to rip out the existing paneling, and do the electric and new drywall at the same time.

(I prefer to find them myself when I have enough to buy my first property) At most, you get a person who checks on you for the first 4 weeks (once a wk) and then tells you what to do to strengthen your REI avatar.

All of them but one that paid a preferred return stopped paying distributions, despite the underlying properties doing OK (some collections dropped a little, but not much). 

:Question: Why is preferred to use a warranty deed, instead of a quit claim deed?