It ultimately boils down to what you can tolerate in the short and long term if you choose to hold onto the property.However, if you do end up selling the property, a 1031 exchange will allow you to defer all of the tax from any gain and the recapture of depreciation on the property. 6 years of depreciation will not be huge.

However, If you live in a small town or a rural area, you may need to choose somewhere else to start.

@Rickey MayesCongrats on your condo purchase, Since it's your first home and potential rental, choosing the right mortgage and down payment is key.

I would always choose to invest here!

My main goal is to find a solid rental market with good cash flow and long-term appreciation potential.Any insights, personal experiences, or key factors I should consider when choosing a market would be really helpful.

Each investor would still choose their preferred properties and the corporation would liquidate enough to pay taxes.

Then those with tenure but choose not to go to the office can take the buyout which includes the severance. 

The issues so far: finding an affordable property that makes sense with rents and is also a place I would comfortably choose to live.

I’d recommend interviewing a handful of companies, asking for referrals, and making sure the team you choose has a multi-layer review process—so it's not just one person handling your books, but a team with oversight and checks & balances.And totally agree with @Markus Shobe: you get what you pay for!

Depending on your down payment (which it seems like you have a good amount of liquid for that) they can nicely cash flow.Ultimately, success in real estate investing comes down to choosing a growing market, investing in a good neighborhood, and building a strong team to support you.