With the help of this great network my wife and I were able to start our OOS investing career at the close of 2017 and we are very blessed and thankful to say that we currently have 5 units under our belt and are in the midst of acquiring 2 more before the close of this year with the amazing growth that we gained from our first unit which we are in the process of doing a cash out Refi on.Alot of people here in the Bay Area think that OOS investing is crazy, that I'm out of my mind and that you can never grow wealth this way and that you should invest here in the Bay and blah blah blah so it was very difficult to learn and go at this alone until I found this beautiful network of good folks doing it everyday!

If you don't want to pay that then perhaps look at vacancy rates, new construction coming in the future and population/job growth in the area. 

For example, I could ask them whether a potential property is worth investing in based on their knowledge of rent prices, growth, and crime in the area.Also, I know many investors don't recommend management companies.

@Roy Oliphant I will be interested in counties with the right investment dynamics of population, employment and growth prospects.

Finally digging through the dol.gov, found a helpful link: http://www.dol.wa.gov/business/realestate/assistants.htmlI see that you don't need a license if you are:Property management assistantsUnlicensed assistants who provide property management brokerage services for the owner, designated broker, or managing broker may perform the following tasks and duties:Unlicensed assistants may… Deliver lease applications, leases, or any amendments.Receive lease applications, leases, amendments, security deposits, rental payments, or any related payment for delivery to, and made payable to, the owner or real estate firm.Show rental units.Execute leases or rental agreements, rental payments, or any related payment for delivery to, and made payable to, the owner or real estate firm.Act as a scrivener, completing blanks on preprinted and preapproved rental agreements with the exact language provided by the property owner, designated broker, or managing broker.

Long-term population growth of at least 50% of the national average (preferably more)3.

How's the rental market and the job growth in that area.

I have been looking at different places to invest.I am looking for advice on the best tool to use to help with appreciation, job growth, etc that would help me.I have looked at a few tools, like zillow, trulia (to look at sold properties) but I was looking for more historical data on appreciation.Any advice would be appreciated!

@Jordan DecuirI have made contact with an agent on Linked in and she has mentioned working with me but I am not sure if she is as up to the task as I would hope.Without her being compensated, initially, for some of the things I am asking, I feel as if she is putting me on the back burner (so to speak).I just did the @ and your name but nothing was prepopulated.

I provide work for them to do, tell them on what days it needs to be completed, and how many hours or lump sum I am willing to pay them for in order to complete the task, but I can't dictate when they work.SO...