I highly recommend googling property management within 10 miles of whatever deal your considering and filtering out from there based on reviews online and from speaking to people over the phone (reach out to experienced realtors in the area).  

Yes, other factors do come into play with a first time investor though.

Hi @Ken Nyczaj and welcome to BP, it has everything you need from free online educational videos to connecting to other investors, you can't go wrong on this site!

Currently the industry standard for online leads ends up with a 70% loss. 

However, they don't have any employees, and very rarely have customers stop in to pick up orders.  99% of everything is marketed online, sold, and shipped out. 

Here has everything you need from free online educational videos to connecting to other investors, you can't go wrong on this site!

   - 9% preferred is good, better than the standard 8%-60/40 split after 16% IRR is not good, there are deals with better splits- Generic value add play, invest in units....raise rents....sell at higher price due to increase NOI- I dont like the short 2 year hold but some would love it- I think the fees are high, but not unreasonable.   

@Jeff Unruh Mecklenburg County, NC has a very robust online tool for search tax foreclosures to include narrowing searches by property type. http://mapserver.mecklenburgcountync.gov/foreclosures/Vacant land presents a whole host of potential problems that may inhibit a quick flip.

But check out Cozy.co - its a simple online payment/tenant portal site.

 all awesome info...I relate to this as I am often out of country..I have bought through trusted eyes for a buy/hold, never a flip.....could you chime in on either..1.regarding an online auction purchase, and seemingly growing trend... they seem to all say "as is", no contingencies, no views, no diligence...how in goodness name can you confidently make an offer on an online auction w/ no walk through contingency?