Advice for Seattle newbie looking at Whidbey Island

[Kimberly Dawn]

Hi my name is Kimberly, and I've just entered the 'interested with enthusiasm growing exponentially' phase of real estate investing. I live on the beach in Magnolia, a smaller community in Seattle, with ridiculous views of Puget Sound, Bainbridge Is and the Olympic Mts. My ideal would be to buy and hold rental properties here in Magnolia, but options are very few and prices are out of my range...for now.

So I am looking to more outlying areas, specifically Whidbey Is, where my brother has just purchased 2 properties that he is deciding whether to long term, or vacation rent. Prices on Whidbey are easily within my means, even with homes that are in solid condition that may only need some updating. I have been researching rental prices and it sounds like there is some passive income to be made here.

Does anyone have any experience with the surrounding island areas? And what is the thinking around owner managing properties 40 miles and a ferry boat ride away?

Thanks in advance!