Financially Ready to Start, But Also Ready to Move States

[Kyle Ratzlaff]

I currently work full time and have been saving up for several years and have started researching real estate recently.  Due to my girlfriend living in a different state, I will most likely end up moving from Iowa to Houston Texas by the end of 2019.  

Financially and mentally, I am ready to start investing in rental properties and would like to start with single and multifamily homes.  I've been living in Eastern Iowa North of Davenport for the last 6 years, so I know people and places around here.  

My predicament: I want to start investing now, but I don't know if its the right decision to start buying places in the community where I am now and then have to manage them from a distance.  Or do I delay my drive to invest in real estate and wait until I move to the Houston area?  Maybe there are some other options that I can invest in prior to getting to Houston?

Let me know your thoughts.