There's so many scammers out there any info would be helpful from this group. 

We cover 6 counties in Central Florida, so you'll have plenty of networking opportunities with other local investors and all types of business members that offer every service you could need. 

Id love to get some anecdotes from investors in the area so I can make a more informed decision.

Hence if I were in your scenario, I would be targeting properties in the Texas market, preferably at least an hour or so away.

For my situation being away from home so often(I'm a Michigan resident), this would still allow me to participate in real estate but be diversified beyond a syndication.

Homes that appeal to our target tenant segment range from $350,000 to $475,000, so the supply of housing we target remains almost the same regardless of how many new homes are built.DemandPopulation growth drives housing demand and price and rent increases.

My wife and I have owned an Airbnb since early March and are doing pretty well so far.

So some of the statements made by the OP change the tenor of this discussion.

I am about 30 minutes north of Boston buying a house in a town called Lawrence, MA. 

There is so much content and to have it spelled out like this is simply amazing.