The other is a full day drive, or a short/cheap direct airplane flight and we have family that lives nearby. 

(iii) leave a note at the owner's home that is nearby (she found using property records)?

Our goal was to get rid of our older houses which need more maintenance ($$) and invest in fewer but newer houses.

Then there is city approval and whether they want a 2 to be a 4 (seems like the nearby properties might support it).

Real Estate Market Predictions for 2025Single-Family Homes: Prices will likely remain flat due to homeowners holding onto low-interest-rate loans, causing fewer properties to hit the market.

*Eventually* they will come back, which might be in 2 years or 10 depending on how aggressive the tree and bushes are that are nearby.

High property prices mean fewer people can afford to buy, so more people rent.

But Columbus tends to be an easier market to manage with fewer surprises, especially if you're not local to the area.

Especially if the other kids follow suit, they'll likely need some kind of housing for a significant period of time nearby so buying now wouldn't be the worst move.Just my 2 cents.

Well, there are two colleges nearby, Delta State and Mississippi Valley but they are about the poorest 4-year public universities in the state and most of the people that go to them are from the Delta.