I am not sure if I should stay local to my market.

@Jacob W. land market in FL is highly competitive.

Local credit unions are good for LOC's as well as other local lenders.2.

My main goals with these initial projects are:1.Gaining valuable insights into the local market.2.Getting hands-on experience with out-of-state investing, particularly when it comes to remodels and managing from afar.3.Testing the entire BRRRR process to see if it’s the right strategy for me long-term.If all goes well, I’d love to scale up and explore multi-family projects.

A second consideration is that condos locally have become more adverse to rentals. 

These can provide good cash flow and are easier to manage than larger commercial properties, especially when you're just starting out.Also, when I was starting, I found local meetups super helpful.

We are a massive appreciation market. 

Build your network by joining local real estate investor meetups or online communities like BiggerPockets.

Since you’re managing a Section 8 tenant and taking over property management, focus on understanding local regulations, lease terms, and effective tenant communication.

In the same amount of work I could find an undervalued deal in my market through existing channels.