Hi everyone,My my name is Scott and I am a first time / long distance investor from West Palm Beach, FL.I am interested in investing in SFH in the Phenix, AL and Columbus, GA area and would like to grow a portfolio in the area over the next few years.It would be great to connect with investors, contractors, property managers, lenders, realtors, and attorneys operating in this area.

I know here recently, due to social distancing and stay at home orders, that STRs have taken a major hit.

I just purchased the books: Long Distance RE Investing (Greene) and Managing Rental Properties (Turner). 

Purchase price: $460,000 Cash invested: $23,000 Duplex in Bridgewater, MA (Short distance to BSU and commuter rail).Unit 1 - 3 Bed 1 Bath (Rent - $2,100)Unit 2 - 2 Bed 1 Bath (Living in unit and renting out extra bedroom for $650) - (Market rent for unit post House Hack - $1600 - 1750) What made you interested in investing in this type of deal?

I was wondering investors like yourself were using for long distance payments?

So instead I focused on getting the cabins ready from a distance (I had planned on going out for closing, but couldn't travel because of lockdowns).

You've come to the right place for advice on investing.For investing from afar, I'd recommend picking up David Greene's book "Long Distance Real Estate Investing" and this blog post.

First-time poster here, very new member of BP.I'm a renter who is not looking to buy my own place -- unless I can house hack w/in a couple miles of downtown.Because I believe the chances of finding my ideal house hack to be pretty slim, I'm thinking about buying a SFH or MFH somewhere within a one-hour driving distance from Pittsburgh.

Once you have decided how you want to run things - it might be useful to contact them and either go and meet them in person and discuss the new management style or if you would rather keep your distance then write to them - perhaps with a welcome gift/token to say I'm glad we will be associated and I look forward to a positive/friendly relationship.

I know that the focus is on social distancing right now, but when that lifts, going to real estate meetups in your area is probably one of the most helpful things to do at the beginning.