I’ve read the Bigger Pockets book on long-distance real estate and am eager to get the ball rolling. 

One more tip hit town homes and condo communities in the area.

I guess I am not sure what your goal is, but I guess funding capital improvements is one way to get involved in CRE, but like Don noted, if you don't understand the concepts of investing nor the specific risks of any of those options, then you are not investing, you are gambling at best, and throwing money and time away at worst.I.e. a quick search of Cincinnati for industrial properties under $300k, and I have about a dozen. 

This unexpected expense turned what was promised as a cash-positive investment into a cash-negative one—the first in my investing career.To make matters worse, I lost $21,000 due to the property managers recommended by RTR.

We're building another 1 bedroom right now next door on the extra lot that came with the first 1 bedroom (we remodeled that one).

The fact is, newbies or scammers are not the only ones that go to meetups and networking groups.

Hi all,I under contracted one 6 units multifamily in Bay Area and doing commercial loan with Chase. 

She'll pay me market rate rent, thus keeping that money in the family, and the condo will eventually transition into a more traditional rental property that will support my retirement and that my children will one day inherit. 

My issue is properties have appreciated a lot since the last one.

There is also a bookkeeper in TX many note investors use (which could be the same one others mentioned).