Better sell everything and live in an underground bunker. 

Having a long-term rental while living abroad is do-able.Flipping houses while abroad, in my opinion, more difficult, especially if its your first go around with real estate.I would recommend taking a flight and staying in the area for a week and inspect the neighborhoods and make connections.You can reach out to @Elenis Camargo who has a PM company in Jacksonville.Best of luck though.

After 45 + years as a real estate investor, broker, lender, fund manager and syndicator, I’ve become aware that the “dream” of many investors and investor “hopefuls” is to be able to generate enough cash flow to live off their real estate holdings and accumulate enough wealth to make “work” optional.

Our out of state investors first came directly from our circles of influence in Denver where I lived and Florida where my older brother lived.  

I wanted to invest where I wanted to live and I am also from Elgin so am constantly headed further nw. 

Is it an automated voice attendant, is it a call center where you are routed to someone else eventually to get an answer, or is it a live, well trained staff member?

Let people live.

First: Can you commit to living there for at least two years?

Best of luck, and if I lived nearby I think I’d be bullish on, and potentially investing in the area as well! 

It's actually harder if you are currently living in the property, want to cash out, and then have it as a rental as you haven't proven to the bank that the property will cash flow $600 a month on top of the NEW mortgage costs. 1.