Investing out-of-state can be even more risky if you do not have experience successfully underwriting, buying, and managing rentals.

Property taxes are high relative to the assessment values also. 

By talking more to the police, we found out that the main tenant had a long history of inviting guests in exchange for help around the house and that those relations would always turn tumultuous and that the police visited the house several times each quarter over civil complaints, suspicious activity, noise, drug related activity, and a bunch of other civil nuisance type of calls.

Let the tenants know going forward all communication should go through your attorney.The other option is to get a property manager involved as well, but at this point i would go right to an attorney.

I can go get a masters in real estate and learn from 10 hedge fund managers for that price.  

@Adam Craig I use zillow rental manager along with craigslist and apartments.com.

The relative affordability of these markets scales to the suburbs as well, so you can succeed here without going straight to the city.

Also, trying to have a hands-free airbnb business seems to be especially hard. 2.Team Up with Experienced Apartment Syndicators:•This option involves partnering with a small group of experienced apartment syndicators to focus on acquiring and managing apartment buildings.

Any mailboxes that have keys are managed by the post office.

Hey Austin, totally can relate with you being from an expensive real estate market - I moved to Columbus a few years ago (from Portland, Oregon which was super expensive) to become a full time real estate investor, and ever since, I've completed quite a lot of BRRRRs, flips, and own a successful rental portfolio here in Columbus Ohio.