After 14 years of investing out of state, I'd say a great management company is more important than which city you invest in. 

Shortly after moving in, I learned that the owner of one of the units passed unexpectedly resulting in the foreclosure of her unit.

The rents really should increase at that point as you are delivering a better unit for them to live in.

If rent is coming in, I would schedule a walk through, and continue to do so until I met the tenant, had her sign a new month to month lease and gather information.  

I have no experience but have been absorbing as much knowledge as possible and would like to jump right in.

I currently rent and paying around $1600 all in.

Attach, in PDF, the emails or texts that prove your claim that they would fix it before you moved in (i hope you have those claims in writing).

Update, 3 months in- I have 1.2 million in settlements scheduled for December, and I also work part time with a wholesaler moving off market deals to investors making about 3-4k additional per month!

A side effect of cramming people in is that you will attract college kids looking for a cheap place to party or otherwise poor quality of guests, you really don’t want to do this

Anything to help map out my blueprint.I definitely am decided on the STR with the increased cash flow and investing in areas that I enjoy to spend time in.