It may be inconvenient to appear to bid in GA, but also might eliminate some competition as places like FL and CA host online auctions where the accessibility is very easy. 

My wife is a Real Estate Agent in Texas and has full access to the MLS in Texas. 

IO loans work well for properties that you can force appreciation through value add improvements, but need extra cash to do make it happen.

Just do it ... all beginnings are tough , but the sooner you start the sooner you improve and get better

There is definitely room for improvement there.

I also have access to my 401k which I have basically saved to use as the starting platform for my investing. 

I’m looking at Worcester because Multi-families are cheap compared to the rest of the state and I feel like it is a decent rental market due to the many colleges, universities, hospitals, and commuter access into Boston.

For many years I have worked on improving and selling primary residences and rolling over the equity to the next home but I would like to get into real estate investing as a business.

It should work fine, particularly if you have access to folks who need less space and lower rents...think students, medical interns, etc.

@Jim Cummings that's possible, but not all sold amounts get reported through to what is visible to those of us without realtor access.