I'd buy where you live (within an hour or so) for your 1st investment!

Quote from @Ryan Moyer: Quote from @Nick Velez: Hey Anthony,I have a few STR's in Gainesville and have lived here for about 7 years now and know several people with STR's as well.

Not the cheapest 25% or the most expensive 25% but I’m the middle, where people want to and can afford to live. 

Quote from @Keyshawn Johnson: Hi BiggerPockets Community,I’m currently living in Italy but will be moving to Florida soon, specifically to the Destin area.

I'm from Newburyport and lived in Seaport for a while.

I would probably work with an attorney in North Carolina (or wherever you live) to do some estate planning since you do have young kids.

Quote from @Jemini Leckie: Hello, I am trying to understand the Orem, city code to determine if I am allowed to rent my basement ADU that I currently live in two a couple cousins and their friend.

So - somewhere 2 hours away, or somewhere you like to vacation in, or where all your family lives, or where you plan to move someday.Too many people are trying to do exactly what you're doing - pick a market based on a formula - and they end up buying a random 'cheap' property thousands of miles away, turn it over to people they've never met or even spoken to, and then... lose money.  

When you sign almost all mortgage closing packages, you are signing an Occupancy Clause that states you are intending to live in the home for 12 months.  

Hello, my name is Kyle Hardie and I live in Fairmont MN.