So, the way I would try to find a person to help you is to search linked in and web for people experienced in selling new development on your area, and asked them for an hour or two of their time.

There are even web sites that "prescribe" the animal for a small fee, having never even met the individual.

You can do a lot of online searching on the crime, real estate, economics, etc web sites to get an idea of the area you want to invest in.Visit the area personally once you have decided where you may want to invest.Find a real estate agent that works with investors and has knowledge of the area, comps both purchase and rental.Hopefully others that actually did the out of state investing while never living there can chime in and give you more details.

Originally posted by @Mark Vejnar:@Nicholas White2-4 unit multi-family properties are typically appraised using FNMA form 1025 (see below), and considers the three fundamental approaches to value: sales comparison, income, and cost.  

Works very well, I have far more 5 star reviews than most of my competition, which keeps me booked.Guide Book, online (web site/blog, vrbo app) and physical binder at the property.

No doomsday prediction here, but the numbers say to me there's weak fundamentals in that price range in most areas of the city.

I currently have a very basic website that really just gives us a presence on the web.

Patrick-I see (3) options for you they are all complex in nature, however, simple fundamentally(1) FHA 203k Loan - you will not be able to self perform, additionally, remember you need a competent contractor and they must have capacity ("financial") to complete and carry the project no contractor pre-payment,  loan size you referenced it would be a 203k Standard:  Read: (3) Secrets Everyone Needs to Know about using a 203k Loan - Its Easy!

That is Form processing in the clients browser and CGI processing on the hosted site.Unless you have web experience, you will need a web back-end programmer (not a front-end eye candy kind of programmer).

However, I had done my research on the web and found Bigger Pockets here, and educated the living crap out of myself.