Also, any tips y'all would give to people who are just starting out, also I am open to other nearby areas where barrier to entry is still relatively low.

Purchase price: $185,000 Cash invested: $54,000 Bought to rehab, and turn into a Short term rental in a market that has no single family homes listed on Airbnb/Vrbo.

We’re also open to any advice or guidance from seasoned investors who have experience in this space.

traditional How did you add value to the deal?

I'm also finding that a single large repair can wipe out a whole year of income, making me wonder if cheaper cashflowing properties is the right play. 

I asked  how many staff members they now have and was surprised to hear its still the same 3 partners with no additional employees or support.

Thanks for the mention @Nathan Gesner@Jodi-Ann Birch we don't do business up in Flint, but we have encountered Gebrael Management a few times as they've tried to do business in Metro Detroit.They seem to have good processes, but please validate they will meet your expectations.Recommend 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.

In regards to where to start:1. 

Hello,I am new to this whole landlording world and am looking for an answer to an idea I had.

Quote from @Waka Mahoney: Hi Guys, am looking to do a house hack in Maryland.