Newbie here, should I invest in state or out?

[Mariah Porter]

I am an aspiring real estate investor living in Idaho Falls, ID trying to make my first deal. My original inclination was to try to house hack in my area however, I have yet to really find anything on the market that would give me a positive cash flow or even break even, although some have come close. I have started thinking about investing out of state perhaps with the help of a consulting firm like Rent to Retirement. It seems like it could be a good way for me to get started. But my question is this, is it better to have more cash flow in a housing market that appreciates steadily but slower, or invest locally in Idaho Falls, which is in the top 10% nationally for real estate appreciation according to NeighborhoodScout, but have a negative monthly cash flow? Again, I'm really new at this and just trying to learn as much as I can. I would appreciate pros and cons as well as any advice.