Death, Divorce, Dislocation, DensityDeath - very unfortunate topic, but death creates heirs that will have a lot of items to sort through, so a good option is people clear a house asap to rent or sell, then grab a storage unit so they can "sift through" things slowly over time.. many times NEVER.. and pay the fee instead of being "inconvenienced" to have to go sort through their mothers precious china collection.Same reason the rental increases for SS are crazy vs Apartments.. raise $150 storage rent by $9 a month = 6% rental increase. would you go rent a truck, take a full saturday in the 90 degree heat, hire movers, to move your crap down the street to save $9 a month?

Way out there-move re-po MH there for a mini-MH park!

Do you suggest we move into an apartment and pay rent or getting our first house/condo, paying mortgage then once we want to move, rent it out?

Or get the appliance dolly with the lift mech and focus on being the local mover for just that.

I took a couple trips to Aberdeen / Grays Harbor and Longview where the numbers were enticing but wasn't thrilled with the future outlook of the area.

@Elizabeth Wilson, this will not be much of a market mover if any at all.  

You could keep doing this, becoming a serial mover, and keep lower down-payments and owner occupied rates, for much of a military career.  

The plan is to kinda BRRR the place we buy, live in it for the few years and renovate then when we move, rent it out.

Would love to hear if the following article will or may affect how you invest:https://www.unitedvanlines.com/contact-united/news/movers-study-2016

I'm located in Aberdeen.