Getting Ready to Take the First Step... Need Advice

[Account Closed]

Ok, so I am graduating this May and begin working 5 days after I walk.  I will be working in Greenville, SC where I want to begin my investing career as well.   With that being said I have little time to find an apartment to rent/house to buy.  However, property taxes in Greenville are way too high so I will be buying properties in the surrounding areas.  I can't decide whether I should just go ahead and find an apartment to rent out in Greenville and then begin purchasing investment properties.  Or if I should buy my first investment property outside of Greenville and then live in it while doing minor work to it to make it rentable.  Once I finish rehabbing it and save enough money for another down payment move out and rent the unit, rinse and repeat.  

Obviously each situation has its own pros and cons.  Such as living closer to work in the apartment but my monthly rent goes to "nothing" versus if I had a mortgage it would be building equity.  Also, if if I go ahead and buy my first property I would lock in a better rate because it would be O/O. 

If anyone out there has been in a similar situation that would like to share their experience that would be great.  Or if you haven't but have some advice I'm all ears.

[John Coleman]

Check my prior posts, I'm totally biased to my area but if I were fresh out of college and landed a W2 job I'd get a mortgage and live in rehab in mills mill/Dunean/Greater Sullivan. Then rent it out for 1k a month and do it again. Close to downtown and it's the only area where houses are selling for 40k and 150k+ across the street from each other. (Be the guy buying at 40 and selling at 150. Not the other way around.)