There are lots of markets to choose from and something closer to home maybe NV or AZ will be easier to manage and view properties.

If your goal is to offset your mortgage with a house hack then Lowell would be a good bet, but if you're looking for a longer term appreciation play then the areas closer to the city would be better, although the offset from cashflow may be lower than what you're looking for.A good step for you would be to dig into specific areas more as @Lien Vuong noted above.

If you need to be a bit closer, maybe consider Lakeland?

Even at a blended 13% rate, the after tax yield on these higher risk notes was closer to 7.5%, as I work full time and earn good W2 and other investment income.

Closer to LA than Dallas I think. 

Quote from @Michael Diossa: @Remington Lyman Do you feel Single family is a better return on investment than Multi's in Ohio.When all is said and done, the numbers are often much closer than people realize.

I'm starting to look closer in Portland and Eugene and think Eugene might be particularly attractive because of the large university.

So I am not in a place to buy multiple properties in support for airbnb, not yet, more so closer to the end of next year.

I had some family move out here so I wanted to be closer to them, I work as a mate on ships so as long as I'm close to the airport I can get to work.  

And I do get the attraction to bring your property closer to you.