However, this would drive down our cash flow.

It’s a 50 minute drive, and the high school has different start and end times.

If you achieve Real Estate Professional status, you could potentially drive your income down to zero, minimizing your taxes.

He didn’t make a counter offer. 

Often times the property is sold as a legal process to transfer title; you have a good opportunity to deal with the owner direct (best thru a third party, like an agent to avoid legal issues).

There are plenty of inexpensive homes within a 20-30 minute drive of Hershey (Hershey Park, Chocolate World, Concerts) and Harrisburg (State Capital). 

Linoleum counters versus solid surface...Secondly, have you thought about your resale value?  

Your one-bedroom condo may not be a great fit for insurance company relocations (for families displaced by fires), but if your other rentals have two-three bedrooms this may be another way to fill your rentals.I haven't done this, but follow a MTM guy on YouTube that suggests driving by the local "Extended Stay" hotel and looking for company vans in the parking lot.

I once had a family pull up to a house showing driving a U-Haul truck and wanted to move in that day.

If not, I'd strongly recommend staying in the city for a weekend, driving around to different areas that you're looking to invest in and just getting a feel for the zip codes that you'd like to invest.I'd also like to pass along this zip code breakdown done by Doug Skipworth and Dean Harris (from Crestcore) to give you a better idea of which areas to look for deals and which areas to avoid: https://youtu.be/cl69pb2DvEo?