I am just poking around to see if I might start investing directly in real estate. I am close to retirement and just looking around.

Each state, as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, have their own laws regarding the method by which a secured interest is perfected, who can originate real property liens, recording priority, title insurance regulation, foreclosure, notifications, etc.  

Columbia Escrow near Seward Park is one of the best I've ever worked with.

I'm about to move down to the Augusta, Columbia county area of Georgia for 6 months for work and plan on buying a piece of property while I'm there.

Curious to know, are you thinking of investing primarily in the Lower Mainland, other areas of British Columbia or perhaps even Washington state?

Bought my first primary residence here in Columbia. 

We are in and around Columbia, South Carolina and may have some ideas or some overview of the area and the market.The two gentlemen I work for have been in the same location since 1961 and they have lots of opinions and experience everywhere in South Carolina.  

Welcome to BP @Carolyn Fleary we have a number of members here from Laurel and the Columbia area.

. #1 according to western invest magazine. http://www.westerninvestor.com/news/british-columbia/kamloops-coquitlam-head-list-of-top-towns-for-property-investors-1.2443954Join the Real Estate Network Training Society Facebook group for updated info on Kamloops, better than me posting thousands of pages of economic data here...Cheers!

Columbia has a lot of opportunity.