I think if you can write a solid letter of explanation stating that you are going to commute to Colorado from Washington for 4-5 months out of the year for your job (and why), that should be sufficient enough to run this as a primary residence. 

Make sure to checkout all the materials under the "learn" tab, especially the podcats, great for those long commutes.

Building more roads for hour commutes is not how people want to spend their time.

I am thinking of using an apartment or condo to eliminate my commute four days per week and making it available on weekends for STR.  

The hour commute is manageable. 

Yes, I'm currently looking to find a property that may require some upgrades to add value and near lines for commuter to NYC. 

Just like @Harrison Colunga mentioned above Riverside and San Bernardino counties may have some good deals and if you're willing to commute a little bit, this may help out. 

The education and health services sector alone added 23,800 jobs in the past year, reflecting a significant expansion in these industries, particularly in healthcare and social assistance​.Proximity to Major Employment Centers: Greater Heights offers convenient access to key employment hubs such as downtown Houston and the Galleria area, which are major attractors for residents due to the short commute and abundant job opportunities​.Education: Nearby institutions like University of Houston and Rice University contribute to the area's appeal.Infrastructure Projects: Ongoing developments like the East Blocks Redevelopment and BioHub II at Generation Park enhance local amenities and attractiveness.Investment InsightsGreater Heights Rental Market Trends:Single-Family House Rentals:Median Rent: $1,350 for 1 bedroom, $2,695 for 2 bedrooms, $3,250 for 3 bedrooms, and $6,100 for 4+ bedrooms​​.Stability in rent prices with modest YoY increases: 2 bedroom rents increased by $195, and 3 bedroom rents by $250​​.Median Sold Price YoY ComparisonApartment Rentals:1 bedroom apartments saw a YoY increase of $305, 2 bedroom apartments by $667, indicating strong demand for these unit types​​.Available Rentals:High availability of both house and apartment rentals, indicating a robust market that can support new rental investments​​.Sales Market Trends:Median Sale Prices:Significant appreciation in home values, particularly in 1-bedroom homes, which saw a 190.7% increase from $215K to $625K​​.Other bedroom counts also showed positive appreciation, e.g., 2 bedrooms (5.3%), 3 bedrooms (6.5%), 4 bedrooms (17.4%)​​.Market Activity:Increased number of homes for sale and sold, suggesting a dynamic and active real estate market.

We seem to be returning to the “Drive until you qualify” days, where homebuyers are forced to move further out to find affordable housing.For someone who works in Marlborough and only commutes a couple of times a week, buying a multifamily home in Worcester might seem like a smart investment.

North Texas is exploding and Durant is commuter distance for it.