If you can afford it, invest local and DIY everything.The experience you gain will serve you well if you want to expand OOS.

Welcome to BP and thank you to the both of you for your service! 

Promotional disclosure - I am in the business of selling professional services to real estate investors like yourself and completely understand it is not an easy task to find a trusted advisor to bring on as a team member. 

transunion offers one for free to you. once you've selected your prospective tenant, you submit their basic info (name, email, etc) into the TU site, and it asks what services you'd like: credit, background, etc. it will send them a link to complete the sensitive info like socials and such, and then charge them for the credit/ background check. or if you'd prefer to pay for it, you can select that option as well. ive been using this, pretty great so far!

Any insights on markets with affordable duplexes, good rental demand, and FHA-friendly opportunities would be highly appreciated.Additionally, if you have tips on finding turnkey properties or navigating the FHA financing process for duplexes, I’d love to hear your experiences and advice.Thanks in advance for your valuable insights!

@Luke EdwardsIf you’re looking for a crazy affordable distributor, call 6467305720.

These start from limited service hotels with no food and beverage components outside of your complementary breakfast. 

*  When you get licensed, everyone (including BP) will try to sell you leads, signs, more leads, business cards, more leads, name tags, more leads, health insurance, leads, print/mail services, leads. 

@Russell Brazil I don't think that will be the end result... or that MD considers agents wholesaling to be illegal.I think REALTORs have changed their focus to defending their commissions and cannot afford to fight this battle right now.From what I understand, Maryland is going to move to a disclosure requirement (I'm going to assign this contract; here's where you can find the assessed value of your property; etc.), with parties having the ability to cancel a contract and potentially keep the EMD when the required disclosures are not made by the wholesaler. 

I looking to team up with REs who have done STR-focused deals and provide end-to-end service to manage STR in TN, WI, FL, SC, NC, VA, and Colorado.