Please click on the links, give them a read, and share your thoughts in the comments.First is a post that I feel will help not get overwhelmed with the amount of info that is here on BP:https://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/5868/52761-the-simple-guide-to-getting-started-on-bpThe second is a post that will help get you focused with your real estate investing goals:https://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/5868/52743-im-new-to-bp-any-advice-would-be-appriciatedThe last one is a post that will help you choose an “investor friendly” real estate agent.

Here are some recommendations for you:Find and connect with other BP members that are in your area: https://www.biggerpockets.com/search/users.

Unless you have a model which can 100% predict where the next hot spot is going to be (and you might have, in which case we should become best friends), it will remain, at best, a guess - albeit one "backed" by more math than I would understand.  

I was not in a position to buy an apartment building with only my own capital, so I reached out to a few old friends who were into real estate, and pulled together a partnership with 3 other partners.

Age aside, personally I find that the airbnb app and platform are way more functional and user-friendly on my android and iPad, and now our new iMac but I know I'm biased against VRBO, for some reason I can't put my finger on. 

I had an agent friend trying to buy an REO, got stalled by “title problems” no timeline to cure......a quick search of the foreclosure file showed they forgot to name a junior mtg in the foreclosure...they were going back into court to vacate the foreclosure, start again naming the junior mtg holder, yada yada.....6 months minimum.

Topics of interest are pricing, investor friendly Realtors, neighborhoods, crime rates, local laws, good contractor/handymen and portfolio & hard money lenders.  

Did you factor in Management fees (it will be more for a vacation rental), cleaning services etc or are you planning to have family and friends help you manage from OOS?

Something you might consider is taking a look at your strength and weaknesses, I did that and partnered up with someone who brought those things I didn't have to the table. found a mentor,  And a carpenter,  I wasn't a Carpenter, so building things wasn't in my forte, I had a friend that was. 

A friend that is a realtor brought someone through to see it and they liked it but ended up being a low baller.