I'm not an loan officer, but I know some banks locally like ORNL Credit Union have offered a 0% down conventional loan product.

I know Wilmington has a local meetup.

You're likely better off attending your local REI meet-up to see if you can find an investor who has house-hacked or is currently house-hacking their primary home.

Try some local small banks or look in the tools on BP

My goal is to build a sustainable rental portfolio that provides great housing for tenants and solid financial returns.I’m looking for advice, insights, and connections from experienced investors or local professionals.

Found this property through our local online foreclosure auction site.

You must hire locals who are familiar and acclimated to the culture of the city you plan to create rentals in. 

Post on local Facebook pages for contractor referrals, go to local REIAs, and ask your potential agents and PMs (even if not using a PM at first...you may at some point).There is only so much that service providers can do and many of them are far from "experts"; so, be prepared to be your own expert at being willing to figure stuff out as you move forward.

@Joshua Piche with little experience, it's better that you invest locally vs OOS - unless you want to invest a LOT of time learning another market and networking with th right people.Locally, look for a 2-4 unit property that will qualify for FHA 203(k) financing. - This will allow low down payment and the 203(k) allows repairs to be financed into the purchase mortgage.- The 203(k) will allow you to bid on properties that need repairs that won't qualify for a traditional mortgage => less competition => better purchase price.You will need to find a great local contractor you can trust to supply the required bids to qualify for the 203(k).- After closing, you can do some of the work yourself to save money, but the program doesn't allow you to pay yourself.You will want to buy a Class B property, maybe Class C+, in an area that seems to be improving.

When I had my B&Bs we also included local restaurants and attractions in the packet of information which you might want for a STR.