Buying duplex or single family home before moving for job

[Phillip Mosley]

So I have been living in Atlanta for six years and recently was selected to be an air traffic controller. I am currently working at another federal agency while going thru the background check process which should be completed around April or May 2018. At that time I will have to relocate from Atlanta to Oklahoma City for three months for the academy and then relocate from there to another city that is unknown until after I pass the academy. I've been following BiggerPockets for two years and really want to take action now to purchase a buy and hold property in Atlanta to get experience with real estate investing, but when I've told family and friends about this they quickly tell me it's not a great idea because I'm going to have a long distance real estate investment. So I thought why not ask BiggerPocket members and followers what do they think?

[Jason D.]

I've had long distance rentals with no problems. The key is to find a good property manager. You have an advantage now because you are still local and can do interviews pretty easily. Interview property managers before purchasing anything and if you cam find one you are comfortable with, only then would I move forward with an investment.