It would also be wise to educate yourself on what a good PM does and doesn't do, how they do it, what they charge and why, etc.My book, The DIY Landlord, will be out in December and can teach you how to select or supervise a property manager.

EDUCATE YOURSELF - yes, it will take time, but will lead to a selection that better meets your expectations & avoids potentially costly surprises!

The Federal Trade Consumer’s Bureau of Consumer Protection stops unfair, deceptive and fraudulent business practices by collecting reports from consumers and conducting investigations, suing companies and people that break the law, developing rules to maintain a fair marketplace, and educating consumers and businesses about their rights and responsibilities.In all other industries consumers are able to rate the performance of service providers and potential investors have a right to have these insights.

I consider myself to be fairly educated but I have no clue what you are asking. 

Start with house hacking, invest in credit and education, and leverage electrical skills.

They will just send you what's on the market to your email and you can do that yourself with Zillow etc.You'll just need to keep educating yourself then plan to travel in 6 months.

Ask them if $500 would be fair enough for a day or few hours of education. 

EDUCATE YOURSELF - yes, it will take time, but will lead to a selection that better meets your expectations & avoids potentially costly surprises!

@Rama KrishnaTo start investing in real estate, set SMART goals, educate yourself, learn market research, and choose a strategy.

The forums are full of self-managing landlords who make little mistakes that turn into big mistakes that cost them years of cash flow (or more).If you want to be a DIY landlord, I recommend books, blogs, classes, or other resources to educate yourself quickly.