What adds complexity to our plan, is that we live in Minnesota.

@Hudson Filippi What part of Northern MN do you live in now?

Determine Your BudgetSet a Realistic Budget: Consider the cost of tuition, living expenses, and your financial situation.Mortgage vs.

Thank you for your feedback, I will definitely look into Facebook and I live on YouTube lol everything I watch is on REI and now GC.

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.

If you plan to buy in your hometown, buy a 2-4 unit, and live in one of the units.

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.  

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.  

I buy homes as a primary residence with 5% down and move into them keeping my previous as a rental and the area that I live doesn't have new builds that would work for us, otherwise I would buy a new build. 

I have no reason to stay in Gilbert, other than it's where my family lives currently, so it's nice to be close.