I'm an out of State investor and make a trip or two to the area every year.  

I've been brought in on a few newbie flippers who got screwed by a range of trip wires and nearly lost their shirts.  

Electrical Panel should be further evaluated by a LICENSED AND BONDED ELECTRICIAN to ensure the safety and compliance of the Electrical SystemFederal Pacific Electric "Stab-Lok® " service panels and breakers are a latent hazard and FPE circuit breakers can fail to trip in response to overcurrent, leading to electrical fires.

I would make a trip or 2 to the areas you are considering to investigate the area.

On my trip to the bank yesterday I talked to the President who deals with commercial loans.

A 4 hour trip every time you have to fix something or even for a regular drive-by is going to get old very soon.

You can find them by searching the Internet for their website.I would also recommend "The RING" in Baton Rouge if you are willing to make the trip there to do some networking.

In anticipation of my trip, I've been doing research on the purchase of single family homes for a personal investment.

Have to make a trip to A-town soon and catch-up with you in person. 

BUT you will have to stop going to eat out as much, not as many starbucks trips, no new car this year, dont buy those new clothes.