I purchased my first buy and hold SF rental property last year and turned the property into a student rental as it was very close to a local College.

Sec. 8 works well in some markets and it can be a premium and successful for locals who own a bunch of them and run them with an iron fist..

I can put in touch with a couple of local insurance agencies.  

I live in Tacoma, WA…a lot of folks don’t want to deal with having to learn the local housing laws.

I want to remain local in NJ or at most drive down 1hr to PA (self-manage or, last resort, hire a PM)However, I must also consider maintaining reserves, a safety net for my primary home, and an emergency fund.It's just hard for a new investor now :(

I would join local business networking groups to get inside deals.

However this is something that will for sure affect MF construction this year and sfr is these Tarrifs hold.In the NW I know a lot of lumber comes from CA / BC to be specific but my lumber packages for homes i build in Charleston SC are pine so I know it local wood .. but you know the lumber brokers they will gouge if they get any chance to do so

Most local banks and credit unions will have free accounts.You need two accounts: checking and savings. 

Do I contact appraisers and local title insurance agencies to begin to find one that I could use? 

Are you going to continue your investing locally?