Having a long-term rental while living abroad is do-able.Flipping houses while abroad, in my opinion, more difficult, especially if its your first go around with real estate.I would recommend taking a flight and staying in the area for a week and inspect the neighborhoods and make connections.You can reach out to @Elenis Camargo who has a PM company in Jacksonville.Best of luck though.

Quote from @Tove Fox: I live in California and am interested in purchasing my first investment property in an A or B neighborhood in one of the above states, ideally under $300k.

Quote from @Ven Bud: After hearing to lot of bp episodes on negative cash flow, I have a question.I am currently living in my primary residence and planning to purchase an investment property, and obviously it is going to be a negative cashflow (bay area), but I am of the opinion that as long as the rent on the investment property is atleast going to be greater than my current primary residence mortgage it can still considered as positive cash flow investment.The investment property is going to be in a much better location (for office commute, bay area proximity) than my primary residence.

My best friend lives in Kingman with his mother.

I live in a small town in eastern Arizona, about 7000 people, and we have a pretty serious shortage of rental properties.

I haven't lived in it long enough to be exempt from capital gains, good point on that.

Can you buy a duplex in Arkansas and live in one side just to get your feet wet and make sure you like the area?

I live around Huntsville, the epicenter of northern Alabama.

I informed them that their contract states they are expected to pay up until the end of the agreement regardless of living their or not. 

@Marcus Stokescan you start with a live-in flip or house hack instead?