My opinion for those that live in a high cost of living market is to continue living / renting in that market and invest in a different market that is affordable and provides both cash-flow and appreciation potential.The reason to stay in the HCOL market is because you will be paid(hopefully) a nice large salary.You can take this salary to then 'easily' invest in other markets.NYC is tenant friendly which can be a con for investors.Furthermore, NYC has appreciated historically.

@Max Murin I think you can learn a ton just off of free education with youtube or learning from someone locally and provide free labor.

We are working with an agent who has provided us some of his connections and is very helpful.

@Anthony DreWhen someone starts with “I am new to this” and then they provide little details and want to start in multifamily.

Everyone who has responded has provided tremendous insights, I’ll definitely look into the YouTube channel as well.Quote from @Mindy Nicol: Hi Scott, I have 2 rentals that I self manage and am really happy with Lodgify to coordinate messaging, sync calendars etc. 

Mapping and GIS are great too, but we'll stick to the nuts and bolts here.My question is, with regard to providing high quality, investment-savvy title research, do you also make a habit of jumping down to City Hall or another series of municipal buildings to check for zoning, permitting, and utility issues in addition to your courthouse work?

It depends on the lender but it typically just requires you to sign a document provided by the lender that states you are intending on moving to the property and staying for a year.

Additionally, working with a local real estate agent can provide valuable insights and assistance in your search for the perfect neighborhood in Birmingham.

Also, be careful with exit strategy where the more rural areas may provide more cash flow, but may not appreicate and are gonna be tougher to sell in a down marketGino

Your local REIA can often provide similar information at a fraction of the cost, allowing you to allocate your saved capital towards your first deal.