This has driven up the property taxes there. 

STR seems to have better tax benefits (in the right market) but is it worth it at a distance ???

You have the ability to sell while limiting your capital gains tax because you lived in 2 of the last 5 years. 

So if you have the property for a total of 10 years, moved in at year 8, little value or tax advantage.

Repairs made while the property is your primary residence are not deductible, but improvements can increase your cost basis, reducing future capital gains tax when you sell.

However, there is no specific holding period contained in the tax code or regulations and there is no "safe harbor." 

I do intend to stay close to home - but home provides only annual opportunities and I’m looking for year round possibilities with tax deed properties. 

@Andrew Slezak Opportunity Zone (OZ) investing allows you to defer capital gains taxes (e.g., from crypto) by reinvesting the gains into a Qualified Opportunity Fund (QOF) within 180 days.

That might even be enough to make it hard to be hired by a traveling nurse agency.BTW, I am not a lawyer that can give legal advice.

>on top of dealing with insane lawyers and social workers who believe that less fortunate people can hurt wealthier people.