I’m local and may be able to help.

Not to knock schooling, I have an advanced degree myself, but I recognize that no one would work for me that I would want running my show.There is a lot showing in your frustration, I feel for you, but it's a challenging time in the industry and without experience and the advantage of having been through a few down cycles, you may just need to read about the down side of real estate to get to the next level.

Have you been to any local city council meetings to see if others in your area have the same or similar concerns?

Finding the true appreciation rate for specific towns can be a bit tricky, but you can start by looking at historical sales data, talking to local realtors, or even checking out some online tools that track market trends.If the condos you’re eyeing aren’t meeting the 2% rule, it might be worth reconsidering or at least getting a more detailed breakdown of potential long-term appreciation and other benefits, like tax advantages or rental demand growth in the area.

@Vy LeRecommend exploring as many sources as possible to get referrals AND cross-reference them to get as much accurate information as possible.Check out NARPM.com, BP’s Property Manager Finder (BiggerPockets: The Real Estate Investing Social Network), etc.Also, encourage you to learn from the mistakes of others - by reading posts here on BiggerPockets about owners not having their expectations met by their current Property Management Company.

My goals in real estate are to help my friends and family (or you too!)

Majority of the NYC real estate companies uses it.

You should probably chat with a local attorney familiar with the Columbus, Ohio process.

Also, what are suggestions on how to bring investing in real estate with some funds (have around $600 from a current contract job). 

I suggested to contact a local title lawyer who knows those type of transactions.