If you live in CA, NY, Boston etc - the financial difference is big enough.Investing in your home town is always best, you have the home-field advantage and you can buy, rehab and manage a lot more efficiently.

Self-managing is definitely the way to go!

I am located in Arizona and have been in manufacturing for 20+ years while my brother is an experienced contractor based in California. 

(And - full disclosure - I will be using a mail forwarding address also and only occasionally actually hosting meetings at that location... it's like a 'WeWork' space, I generally work from home and my managers are on-site at the parks...)To everyone's continued success, and due diligence,-jl-

Is RentRedi as easy to use as Avail for posting the listing and managing the listing?

I would focus on a strategy and you and your brother like (Do you want day to day management of a house flip?

I tried to do a cash out or heloc on this house but it couldn't be done because of the price it was low. the house is located in Rockford il, planning to buy in Rockford as well since I live here.

Consider managing remotely you'll have to be willing to travel 3 hours when needed or find a way to handle it virtually.

I am actually an old fart, semi-retired managing my now small real estate portfolio of 16 doors.  

I am located in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and looking to acquire multi-family properties.