For context, I'm based in the SF Bay Area in CA and looking into buying my first OOS rental after house hacking locally for 10 years.

It's near impossible to cash flow when most homes are selling for above $750K, Taxes and Insurance added in the PITI payment is higher than the rents.You can buy a Duplex 2 unit for example in either FL, IN, or OH and not pay more than $200K the rents are typically $1200-$1500 a door.

(The power company in MN will offer you a chance to buy the warranty after the furnace/ac is broken and come back the next day to fix for free.)

Then generally the best advice is to buy in the best area that you can afford, even if the cash flow isn’t as good in year one you will get more market appreciation in equity and rent growth in the better area.

Subsequently I ended up buying property in 8 states, and a couple weeks ago bought 5 properties in 5 days in 3 states.

Remember, if you sell it, you'll have capital gains that you will have to pay since you are buying the other property before you sell you're old house.

The 45 days identification time sometimes presents a challenge and if you dont give yourself a little wiggle room you might end up buying something you dont necessarily want/like. 

I would recommend you look for a good neighborhood to buy a multi family in.

And this is your best chance of house hacking while covering most of your living expense or maybe even cashflow if you buy in the right area.Hope this helps!

Quote from @Allison Cutlip: Hi all, My boyfriend and I are buying our first home that is a duplex, planning to live in one unit and rent the other side.