Additionally, I would line up your financing so you know what your max budget is (you don't have to spend it all) and then look at what different types of properties you could purchase in the areas you have chosen. 

I have chosen not to renew their lease for a number of reasons.  

If my 2c are worth anything....You have chosen two very different paths but as you stated it in the beginning - your goal is to travel and see 30 countries by 30.  

Once you give them money they simply say your idea wasn't chosen, or didn't qualify for funding.

It's the market...or the properties that are chosen.  

In addition to just being the closing attorney chosen by the seller, they also look over or can prepare the purchase contract for the FSBO.On a last deal (didn't work out) that was a REO (At that time my agent forwarded the contract with the addendum to me.)

The agents who marketed the deal to us were a firm known as 'Property Direct America' and the director and contact is Danny Silver (he has now chosen to end communications with me as I have been pointing others to threads such as this).

This technique often leads to a management nightmare as they, or the management company they have chosen, are not prepared to properly screen tenants and manage a rental property in a distressed community.

All the best on your chosen path.

This is the only thing that may cost $200 or so.c) Decide on your criterea and get emailed alerts from your chosen real estate agents.