I ended up going with a market I had already been to, Huntsville, and learned to do long distance real estate investing as well as the BRRRR method.

Quote from @Jaycee Greene: Then the question is if you want to deal with a long-distance rental property (I'm assuming the GA place is north of Atlanta, which is at least 5 hours from Fairhope).

Yes your advice aligns very well with what I read in David Green's book on Long Distance Investing which was very helpful.

I own 21 doors (all multi-family) They are now that I managed from a distance.

.- Strategic Location: Close to major commuter routes (I-495, US-29) and public transit (Metro).High Demand: Inventory in Silver Spring remains tight, driving competitive offers for move-in-ready properties.Diverse Market: A mix of young professionals and families ensures a broad buyer pool.

Even though the distance would be a lot farther to travel than initially investing in another Chicago neighborhood, I know the tenant laws are a lot more relaxed out in the suburbs, the average price of property is much lower, and it just feels like a smoother entry point than a large city in general.I'm very interested in multi-family properties to begin my real estate journey and have worked on putting a team together, so I am getting closer to actually acting, not just observing.

Up to now I've put my money into the stock market and I'm looking into diversifying into real estate as well.My current goal (assuming I decide to move forward) is to actively start in a year or two by buying a single modest place as a long-distance investor.

As you are likely aware, water can travel great distances from its source, across pipes and beams within the walls.

That to me would make owning a EV and commuting in LA a must have. :) Not sure if its like that in any other bad traffic metro I know OR does not have it and I dont think its  that way in Seattle either

Video is even better, if professionally done.Most of our travelers that are coming from any distance are happy enough for great pictures and good customer service to rent.