Take into account elements like total affordability, policies that favor landlords, and property taxes.Make contact with real estate agents and investors in the target market locally.

Smaller local markets are harder to nail down accurate ARVs and find reliable trade labor.Regarding managing general contractors, I've heard some horror stories from our owners who have worked with GCs they've never met.

Would be grateful if any locals or investors in the area could share some pointers. 

I'm a local lender in St.

I’m local in SA and have midterm rentals here on the NW side

I have a small health care benefit from my local government career, and I have VA health care since I'm ex-military but it's not as good as it used to be (too many people in the system, too few providers at the VA) so I am planning on buying a supplement on the marketplace when open enrollment comes in November.

Since myself And another partner are local we plan to live in the first one while we understand the process of what it takes to build and get some experience under our belt then the plan is to scale from there, really just need to get our feet in the door to which I appreciate the connect with Jennie.

I would be talking to other investors in your local investment club or network.

@Alexander Merritt   IMHO low end rentals are only suitable for local investors that are in the landlord business and are going to scale up and own as many as they can get 100's have your own PM and maintenance and that's the ONLY way in my mind that stuff will work over any amount of time.buy the best that you can if your just starting out.

Hello Frederick,These forums are a good place to start.I also suggest looking up local meets/Events to begin networking.