Anything you do out of state will be more expensive and have slimmer margins because you need to involve more middleman to get the job done.

@Wes Blackwell is VERY involved in the Sacramento market and can provide you with more insight than I on specifics but if you have any questions about specific neighborhoods feel free to reach out, or if you are looking for a partner who can property manage as well as you are in the bay area I am at your service =)

Just to be specific: If I’m handling the initial mortgage, then only getting private money for the rehab cost, would I still give first position? 

If you have any specific questions about being a landlord in South Jersey feel free to contact me with specific questions.

Have you tried doing a search in the specific zip codes on BP for BP pro agents?

So, if you're not going to do the work yourself, or if you don't have some magical contractor that can do it cheeper (and better) than anyone else, the only reason not to buy it finished is if the price you get it for, combined with the price you're paying to fix it, combined with a very healthy margin for your risk and the inevitable surprises....

What are you looking to learn about specifically?

We're in East Hartford, CT for this specific property and yes we're absentee owner.

Asking for what specific areas investors are looking to buy in.

I'm from Massachusetts, and I'm specifically interested in land flipping, at least to start - the low barrier to entry, the simplicity (vs rentals), and ability to do it while working a full time job and being a dad makes it appealing to me.