Richard, Ill respond to your PM here so others who may be interested can learn.
I'm in venture capital. I buy and sell or buy and hold businesses for a living. I invest in real-estate in my individual portfolio. These days, I own mostly buildings in NY for passive cash flow. Every now and then I dabble with flips. I am networked heavily in the R/E market, and get many short sales offers. I don't capitalize on many due to time constraints, but when I do, netting 100k+ per buy, fix, sell is common, after HML interest, renovations, holding expenses.
I used to buy directly from Fannie/Freddie through a few contacts I made in the GSEs. I invested in multiple states including FL, GA, CT, PA. But out-of-state investing is significantly time consuming. I say "active investments" because I have to find reliable people: plumbers, building contractors, fire contractors, handymen, management teams, runners for permits. I have to get estimates, negotiate prices, micromanage renovations, credit checks, secure new tenants, evictions, pay expenses of the properties. It's alot of work and time.
I sold my portfolio in FL to one investor in NY. I showed him a trailing 12-month history with an 8% net cap. Hence the need for full occupancy before the sale. He was impressed. But for now, I stick with NY.