Investing outside of hometown

[Tom Suvansri]

I'm just starting out and exploring small multi-families in my hometown and adjacent towns as I'd like to stay close for my first property.  Unfortunately, I'm having difficulty finding anything that would actually cash flow.  There are some towns 30+ minutes away that look more promising but, I'm concerned I might be biting off more than I can chew to start.  I work a full-time job in NYC but would like to gain some experience landlording initially.

Thoughts?