Most of us don't think to "diversify" in other fields or arenas, much less in a foreign country! 

Specialist tend to get large volumes of clients as they are seen as the expert in the field.

When you are there, you don't think of it as middle-of-no-where but an exciting place with acres and acres of civil war memories but in fact it's just in the rural PA - fields and forests/game land.

If this is your first investment and your first property, the quickest way to fail is to create an uneven playing field.

Absolutely, creating a baseline business plan is a crucial step when starting in real estate (or any field) because it provides clarity, direction, and a strategic foundation for your efforts. 

I now work in the field of tax benefits and cash flow for owners of commercial properties and residential rentals for purchases of $250K to over $2.5 Billion. 

Most successful real estate investors could have excelled in a number of other fields.

Or can you acquire another business in an adjacent field that increases profitability?

Always invest in your backyard @Dina Mazur - you have a huge home-field advantage I would not give up.

Exactly on the MLS listing in our market there was a field called BAC and that is where you put in the commish that your offering to a buyers agents.