If you were in my shoes what would you do?

[Dimitri Lopez]

We are moving to Florida, near Miami, in about 2 years, it could definitely be more time. We want to buy and hold unless another strategy makes more sense. I live in Texas right now, Austin area. Would you buy here in Texas or would you buy in Florida already? I did live in Florida for a while, so I know the place a bit. Mind you I was not really looking at the place with all that I know now.

[Bryan Wilson]

If it is an "either/or" decision I would say if you could find a master lease scenario in Florida that could be nice.  Lock in a purchase price for a small fee in say 5 years and try to rent the property out for now and pocket the cash flow.  If you find you aren't going to move in 2 years you still have flexibility to decide on whether you will be moving and can still have the option to continue the agreement as is at that time.  If you don't end up moving to Florida you could assign the contract, back out completely, or buy the property.

If you are set on buying in Texas I'd suggest a buy and hold that will become a rental when you leave.  Put enough down now so that you can cashless later on down the road when you go to rent it.  

I would say though that if you are definitely moving to Florida that looking in that area and assessing the situation as far as whether the market could continue to go up or possibly cool down would be the number one priority.