If you don't own a primary, that's the best place to start on this journey. 

I think you should start by getting the financials and condo docs together.

Just started using https://www.turbotenant.com/ it gives you a focal point to house documents, gives you a credit report and some other things but it's still your decision to make with the collected information. 

Thanks for this perspective too @Aaron Zimmerman Based on this info above, I am starting to lean toward the $400k in cash versus the cash flow.

House hacking is the BEST way to get into real estate investing and that's how I personally got started as well too.

Is it a bad idea to start investing if I don't live in the country.

Leaving out auction and foreclosure costs for a second, when you write that check for $220k the trustee is going to pay BigBadBank the $175k they are owed first, then he's going to pay LittleBadBank the remaining $45k, and you will get a clean title as the process is going to wipe the slate clean.

I currently have about 50,000 saved and want to start putting it to use, knowing real estate is one of if not the safest investments.

I started listening to the BiggerPockets podcast in late 2023 and have since heard every episode. 

A lot of newer investors want to get started in Real Estate and then turn the riskiest type of investment.