I am on the board of CFRI, our local REIA and I know we have dozens of agents and investors that have their license if only to list and buy their own properties, but could recommend some to you. 

I am happy to hop on a call to share more of my local expertise and if you're still looking for professional property management, I can talk to you more about that.

If the locals say it's rare then I would not worry.

It’s likely to at least pay for itself or help the property sell faster.Talk to a few local agents to confirm how much buyers in the area value a garage.

Let the agent know that while you’re interested, the property’s condition and local comps don’t justify the asking price.Taking a warm, conversational approach can make negotiations smoother and improve your chances of getting the deal.

Are there any local meet ups or websites on where to find more people who have a moderate level of experience meaning they are  somewhat experienced but still looking to collaborate and network with more inexperienced investors like myself.

Depending on your state, many have local lenders that will go up to 100% LTV. 

My name is Ashley and I’m looking to provide value as a bird dog by helping investors find off-market deals in areas like Trenton, Hamilton, Hightstown, East Windsor, and Princeton.My goal is to learn, grow, and build lasting relationships with investors in my local market.

I’ve met soo many OOS investors who lost money buying D class houses, someone sold them as B class.The ones who have success from out of state without coming talk to at least 10+ locals who really know the market to triangulate their information.

Contact a local closing attorney as they may have one for you to use.