Investing out of state can be a good option if your local market isn't a good fit.

Talk with them before the purchase to make sure they can help you with your goals and they are a good fit.

I've heard they tend to be pricier than their competitors, but have shorter timelines due to the way they do project management.It might make sense if paying a premium for faster project completion fits into your business model.

Once you have this team in place, you should have the foundation to invest in any market confidently while not being there physically. 

A stationary bike is compact enough to fit anywhere!

Hey Christopher, Columbus OH would be a great fit for your buy-and-hold investment strategy.

So you need to physically move in and sleep in the home more nights than anywhere else for that year.  

When you find those that are a good fit keep them!

I had a last question about when or if I should hire a buyers agents, assuming im preapproved and im at the point of finding a deal: do I hire a real estate agents or home buyers agent to find a home that fits my criteria?

If so, self managing might be a good fit for you.I'm more of a "path of least resistance" person, so if I can pay someone else to do it, I usually will.