Quote from @Angelous Ultionem: That's what I had researched myself but recently I've seen people talk about getting another 100 miles from the first property.

 @ Jennifer Jackson, there is a guy in Copperfield that I can suggest -- haven't used his services yet myself but I have talked to him. 

(b) Is it okay to talk to multiple realtors at the same time (I'm thinking it would be better to have a separate realtor with lots of market knowledge and experience in each of the mentioned locations) or should I only plan to use one?

In my day job I do SEO for a digital marketing agency and I am more than happy to talk SEO with anyone who has questions.I'm interested in Long-term rentals, though admittedly, finding deals below market value and funding those deals (not to mention I honestly have no idea have to put the deals under contract in the first place), are problem the first things I'll need to learn.

Personally I'd like to talk with the landlord instead of a manager, in my mind, it's easier to cut out the middle man to have a conversation.

I think because I've been learning about it so much and talking to so many people, I'm in a state of analysis paralysis and I just need to pick a good deal and go with it with the team that I form.

Downsizing a one factory town.I would expect if FedGov downsizes, a lot of the corresponding periphery businesses/consulting firms, etc shut down.There has also been talk of such things like FBI moving out of Washington, I think some of that has already been the trend, but may accelerate. 

So basically, if you talk to 10 Realtors this year, 9 of them won't be Realtors next year.

Are you talking about house hacking yourself, and using it as a co-living property?

Mine is 16, and it's like talking to a brick wall.