Owning distant rental properties - bad idea?

[Brian Groener]

Hey there! My name is Brian - I'm a 27yo engineer working remotely and currently living in Philadelphia. I'm super keen to get into real estate investing and have the money ready to go for my first property. I grew up and have family in the Philadelphia area so I've been searching in and around the city for a solid duplex. My issue is that my partner - a 4th year medical student - will be graduating next spring, and we could end up anywhere across the country based on how her residency interviews go. I like the idea of investing in Philly, I'll have family in the area long term, and I'm not opposed to using a property manager if necessary, however should I wait until I'm more settled somewhere and look to buy in that location or do I take the plunge now? I just don't want to make the decision to invest and immediately regret it if we have to move next year. Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated!