New location with work every half decade. Buy or rent?

[Bridger L Logan]

I just accepted a job in Bozeman, Montana as a project engineer. I will be living there right out of school. I should be in Bozeman for less than 1 year before I am relocated to a new area for a project. The duration at these job sites will be anywhere from 3-9 years before returning back to Bozeman to repeat this cycle. In other words I'll be relocating every half decade with work, what would you do in my situation about housing?

My ideal scenario is to have a single family home in Bozeman and acquire small multi families in the temporary project areas (I am provided housing allowance) to househack with. Leaving me with rentals over the years across the US.

What are your thoughts, and how would you go about this situation if you were in my shoes.