Seeking advice for buying if not in a city long term (6-18 most)

[Mitch Walker]

To experienced investors, I'm a RN based in Fishers, spent the last two years traveling.  I'm going staff in early April as the travel nurse market is dead in terms of the pay.  I'm from the south, and seek to move back south but no timeframe.  My professional objective is to get into management.  If I can, I'll stay longer.  If not, will seek to leave hopefully in a year or so (also may wait to collect the full sign-on bonus).  

I pay $1200 for a one bed/one bath apartment...I feel hesitant to get into a property and how long would it take to go through, move in, etc....if I hope to leave in a year (again, likely won't be that fast).  But, my thought is, if I could do a 3.5% down, and first time buyer financing...is it worth it, to maybe hold it if I did move south.  Or, could I even sell in 18 months if I'm in the Indy area that length of time?  Just tired of renting, although home ownership will overall cost more out of pocket.  However, I feel the midwest is a good place to start, and would like to start snowballing equity....granted I'm not greedy and seeking a ginormous appreciation in 12-24 months.  Just, trying to get our of the rental market and slowly build equity....(kinda how people did the last several decades), where you used equity to get into more/bigger house without a significant increase in a monthly pmt.  Thanks in advance.

Mitch