Should I buy rental property if not stable?

[Todd Hensy]

Here is the deal. I am unstable. I live in a state a few years and move.. Sometimes up to ten years, other times 2 years. 

The nice thing is my job is flexible and i can live anywhere and transfer anywhere. The problem is I don't know where to live. Right now I am in Ohio cause its affordable and close to my home state of Illinois. I have family in Arizona and Florida. I lived in both of those states but left because of the heat and lack of jobs there.

Anyway, I am tired of renting and throwing away money. I am thinking of buying a duplex and renting out one side and living in the other side. if I get the itch to move out of state I could just rent out both sides and get a property management company to manage the duplex and still have cash flow.

Is that a great idea?

Or should I just rent the rest of my life and throw money away? Honestly, I have no idea which state I will end up these days. Never want to settle down.

[Thomas S.]

There is nothing wrong with renting, it is more affordable than owning and allows you more flexibility to move around if that is your desire. Home ownership is greatly over rated and is only a life style decision. Not your life style in my opinion.

No problem with investing in rentals but they can be a major headache when things go bad and you are not available to deal with tenants or you PM company. Rental properties are not a arm chair investment.