For everyone else (especially those with higher W2 wages) real estate professional is only somewhat beneficial from a tax standpoint. 

Keep in mind that many times the pm will not have many good choices in terms of tenants in the lower quality assets. 

Gerhardt Mahling has a team in MN that could be beneficial to you.

I have looked at various investment calculators to determine if it would be beneficial from a cash flow standpoint - but they all are based on purchase, down payment, etc and don't quite fit with our situation.  

Sometimes we make choices because of preferences and not the raw numbers, and that's totally fine!

Around here the only time we see a house with dish/directtv is when it can’t get either Spectrum or Xfinity (it will be one or the other, you won’t have a choice).

If you have no landlord experience, a MF investment-only can be a lot to take on and understand on the fly and the biggest mistake is usually either bad choice of tenants or lack of reserves.

Was wondering which cities and towns are some of the better choices?

Or don't learn your lessons, and continue to lose deals because you think that the world owes you a favor, the choice is yours. 

It's beneficial to have a partner of some kind who has a stake in the business in the area you are investing.