Please click on the links, give them a read, and share your thoughts in the comments.First is a post that I feel will help not get overwhelmed with the amount of info that is here on BP:https://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/5868/52761-the-simple-guide-to-getting-started-on-bpThe second is a post that will help get you focused with your real estate investing goals:https://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/5868/52743-im-new-to-bp-any-advice-would-be-appriciatedThe last one is a post that will help you choose an “investor friendly” real estate agent.

I bought a flip with $30k potential profit and was too eager...I hired a contractor on a friend's referral but without doing my due diligence. 

A friend of mine and myself have been intrigued by Real Estate Investing for a while now but have really just started to buckle down and get serious about it.

A good house hack. do you know any good investor friendly real estate agents?

Is it a tenant friendly area ?

I'm a real Estate Agent/Investor in Philadelphia, and have a ton of friends who always ask me about how they can get into investing, but never do anything.  

In order to help him, we have raised (along with some friends) between $175k and $200k to invest in real estate.

You could also get a PO Box but you would still need friend or family to check it once in a while.

@David Ribardo and @Joe C jump in with any edits/comments you might have Purchase Price $149,900 (50K a door rule looks good) Three units total gross/month 2239 (1% rule looks good) Fixed expenses: Taxes 2517, Trash 1125 (375/unit in Allentown unless private collection deal previously arranged) Insurance: 703 Common Electric: 519Water/Sewer: 802Allentown Fee: 225 (75/unit/year) Variable Expenses:  Vacancy: 2239 (One months rent of each place, or 8.3%) Management: 1800 (50/door/month) CapEx/Maintenance: 3000 (1000/door) Total Operating Expenses: $12,930 Total Gross Income: $26,868Net Operating Income: Op Ex - Gross = $13,938 Divide your NOI by the cap rate your looking for and you have your offer price.

Have a friend who lives near your old home drive over and see if it is vacant.