Don't get sucked in by the cheap huckster talk of owning a small slice of some multifamily project where you're not on the title and have no control.

If you are currently renting, I don't see any alternative aside from house hacking where your monthly living expense can be turned into an investment. 

I have family in Raleigh, wife and I can't afford where we live in LA, CA so we're looking for an investment property elsewhere to get into some RE while we keep renting in CA, and Raleigh has that familial connection--who knows, maybe we'll move there but assuming we won't for this decision. 

If you decide to invest out of state do a LOT of research to substantiate your decision compared to what you can find either locally or within a few hours drive of where you are.

If anyone has any opinions on where I should start, please let me know. 

This is where you want to be and where experienced investors are. 

I recommend looking within an hour's drive of Orlando where the numbers look better, and there's not as much competition.

I’m finally approaching a place in life where I can begin to start investing and am looking for my first deal in Illinois!

It is a situation where no lease exists, and you must comply with state and local law as specific to your locationIn my case I would give them a 30-day notice of rent increase and to sign a new lease.

So what happens is there is a differential that builds up over time where you get grand-fathered into a lower taxable value.