I'd make sure you're very familiar with the university's schedule & event calendar.

Get familiar with the laws in the state you will conduct business in.

However, we want to make sure that we also find a good property manager in the area that is familiar with small multifamily rentals as we are located out of state.

I have a few questions for those familiar with the market:- What neighborhoods would you recommend for a first-time investor like myself?

I’m pretty sure I’m familiar with the condo complex you are referencing. 

It will familiarize you with the basic terminology and benefits.

I'm sorry, but I'm not too familiar with the Treasure Coast. 

Prioritize properties with strong rental potential and set aside reserves to handle unexpected costs.Finally, familiarize yourself with tenant laws in your target market, especially in Portland, and consult a real estate-savvy CPA for tax efficiency and legal considerations.

I've found that there are markets that have a balance of decent cashflow and decent appreciation and that's the type of market I eventually decided to invest in.I'm not too familiar with the different markets down there but I'd highly recommend looking into Candor Realty. 

Trust me, I have been there.I suggest you try to House hack in cities that you are already familiar with and have some connection with.Hire a great investor agent in that market and ask them all your questions and concerns.That I believe is the best way to get personalized advice tailored to your goals and lifestyle.You giving out Cleeveland and Toledo on your post will only attract biased opinions and advise.Only you know what you truly like, want, and can deal with.As Nicolas said, read this post and comments and hope that gives you a new perspective. https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/12/topics/1215726-break...https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/963/topics/1195280-expe...https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/48/topics/1137397-balti...Goodluck and keep us posted.