Hey Joe, I don't have any contacts up in Central PA but we do a lot of work in SW Florida.

Here are the things we keep an eye out for when it comes to renovations:  (1) major components go first - roof, electrical, central air, plumbing, (2) plan, plan, plan... 

Closest being about 3 hours away in the central valley part of the state. 

Quality work will go a long way.To give an example, an investor I know just bought a house that needed a layout restructure (basically redoing the layout of the house to make it more functional and attractive), installing central HVAC, building out a washer/dryer room, plumbing (new bathroom and kitchen location | rough in + top out), full electrical rewire (after full demo to studs), new sheetrock, paint, flooring, kitchen/bath finish out, and exterior restoration.

If you want appreciation, parts of central Texas outside of Austin are appreciating and growing faster. 

@Joshua Utke Idaho Central Credit Union is still doing 15% down loans.

Neither side has central AC, tenants supply own window units.

Central Indiana Real Estate Investors Association.

@Oren Kachel you should try Central Appliances.

Another investment strategy I’d love to eventually employ is the BRRRR method since I have a good amount of local (central MA, south shore) general contractor and subcontractor connections.