Don't need to know everything, but need to be responsive, find good answers and provide results.

Its not impossible to do it 100% remotely but when its your first out of state rental - its probably much much better to go in person for it - and then when you find an agent that you trust and has proven to be able to be up to the job and your needs, then future properties you can be more comfortable not going down to look at all the properties

Wednesday nights on meetup.com and now I can't find it.

I'd say they have a consistent deal flow for you to look at, but certainly don't take the data they provide as your basis for buying/rehabbing/selling.

I'd love to hear how people make these projects work as I want to help provide more affordable housing for the markets in our area in the Twin Cities, Duluth, and the Brainerd Lakes Area. 

I highly doubt you'll find anyone here, but DM STR accounts on Instagram may help you connect with a host who has done it. 

In one of the cases the owners died, so we are having to find all heirs and gathering death certificates to show that the heirs are the people that can sign on the property.   

And with a 7.75 % interest rate and after remodeling this property  it will cash flow $1,671 after accounting for maintenance, repairs, property management, capex, earning a 6.90% cash on cash return Hi Johnny, based on the info provided.

My hopes are to find a partner/investor to help me get started.

I am also selling an apartment complex and I recommend finding who is doing it and connect with them.