It would be about another 2-4 years before I live back in the US, I am trying to figure out if distant investing might be too much for a first timer or should I possibly wait for the market to decrease a little more?

A property manager can help you avoid lawsuits by keeping your property up-to-date and in compliance with these regulations.Enabling you to invest in geographically distant properties: If you manage your own properties, you're pretty much limited to investment opportunities within a tight radius of your own home.

However, my money is on there being in the not to distant future another round of properties hitting the market, this time being sold by these funds back to main street investors well positioned to acquire and hold.

Starting out as an absentee landlord and relying on the word of a self-interested and distant real estate agent and his lazy brother-in-law home inspector will get you in a heap of trouble. 

Assuming the rents cover your expenses, in 30 years and the mortgage is paid off, and you've done the smart thing by raising the rents over the years, you will be sitting on a multi-million-dollar asset that cash flows thousands of dollars per month at the cost of a measly $20k or so out-of-pocket in the distant past.One thing to keep in mind if you decide to go the FHA triplex or fourplex route is the self-sufficiency rule, which states that 75% or 85% (depending on which state you're in) of the market rents on all units (including the one you will occupy) need to cover your monthly payment (principal, interest, taxes, insurance, and mortgage insurance).

It is a lot of work (hiring, design and finishing decisions, financing, etc.) for distant return.- ADUs detract something from the existing property. 

Do I want to be a distant landlord?  

My main focus when I see the property will be roof, HVAC, windows, and plumbing.  2 options for an exit strategy are 1) simply sell in the distant future or 2) sell to another investor once I have a stable renter if I can get the right price.

Boston is the next distant 2nd at 7.5% followed by NY at 5%, LA at 3.4%......Beijing came in at 9th place at 1.8%, and Seattle came in at 10th place at 1.7%.  

At the current time I'm interested in wholesaling  and maybe graduate to buy & hold in the not too distant future About wholesaling... does anyone have experience with selling purchase contracts outright as compared to assignment of such?