If you’re hiring a PM long-distance, you’ve gotta vet them hard upfront or you’ll regret it later.

I work in Potomac, MD, and would like to buy a condo or apt that I can easily commute and live in, and then eventually rent out, and then buy another. 

LLC corp either one is fine.. either that or they are totally incompetent.. 

First, as someone else stated, if there was a keyed lock on the BR door, either you provide the tenant with a key for it, or you disable the locking mechanism, or you replace the entire handset with a standard bedroom set.

and am eager to connect with experienced investors to gain practical insights.What I’m Looking For:Advice on identifying cash-flowing properties and understanding market trends in Lynchburg or similar areas.Recommendations for a local real estate agent or property manager with experience working with investors.Insights on how to balance active and passive investing as I grow my portfolio.I’m grateful to be part of such an inspiring and knowledgeable community.

Or are you manually working with PropertyMeld?  

The people that run these companies usually come from an "investment banking", real estate, or construction background.

Vetting the operator or borrower is very important.

Is this a Rehab deal or a cash flowing property?

After some extensive research, learning the market is obviously a must know or have an idea about.