I have been doing a lot of research and am hoping to purchase my first investment property this year.

I've been considering BRRRR vs Flipping but where I live in Phoenix, prices are high even in some of the more questionable areas, making it difficult to find good deals.

I am from the Cleveland area and am very familiar with many of the suburbs, so I've been considering investing there instead.

For those of you who have invested out of state, especially on your first deal:

• How difficult was it to build a reliable team (agent, lender, contractor, property manager)?
• What was the biggest challenge you faced?
• Looking back, would you recommend starting remotely or waiting until you could invest closer to home?

I'd appreciate any advice from those who have successfully invested out of state as a beginner.