I bet realistically most people would stop there.

I really see Columbus Ohio as an extremely safe bet for the next 10-20 years.

With builders offering in-house financing as low as 5.5% for investors/second home owners, and warranties on roofs and HVAC systems, I continue to support new construction as a solid choice for LTR buyers.

When starting out if real estate, you pretty much have no choice but to either join a team or join a large brokerage that offers hands on training.

In fact, you’d have no choice but to claim material participation because that is exactly how the regulations read and require. 

House hacking is an awesome choice for starting out—it’s a great way to cover your mortgage while gaining landlord experience.

With strong demand and guaranteed, government-backed rent, Columbus is an excellent choice for investors seeking reliable cash flow.

A final choice would be to rent the primary in a few months, reside in a rental for several years, sell the primary, and purchase another SFH for rental and a SFH residence as a new primary.Is this a viable place to begin investing?

I do expect an ROI but my bet is that if I lead with value by actually trying to help homeowners (and lose potential deals in the process) that I’d build goodwill in the community and more than make up for it with:1.

I don't think Red Deer south is a smart bet right now.