Maggie,If your husband is going to use it occasionally I would buy it as a second home so you only need to put 10% down.

Leasing a LTR is classified as passive despite the occasional needs to actively protect the asset.In Ocean City, NJ there was a little store that had stores within it.

They're actually hosting occasional "come and see" type events where you can go out there BEFORE you buy (and even afterwards!). 

I’d like to keep it in NC or close to home to begin I think, just to keep eyes on things occasionally. 

Both virtually and possibly occasionally in person as well!

Lots of people think they are cashflowing but aren't really calculating out those time bombs and occasional bad tenants, etc.

While selling in Rochester and investing in states closer to Chicago would still require finding a reliable PM and likely making improvements, the advantage is that these new investments would be in a market that I can occasionally drive to.

For the bulk of my real estate service career I've sold Oregon Coast property and STR vacation rentals with ocean views and occasionally oceanfront locations. 

However occasionally a client starts as a FSBO, and then switches after getting tired and frustrated of receiving low ball offers, or a low amount of offers.

We have occasionally run into issues with the Internet being down at the STR and it not all going through with a tenant now using a code that doesn't work.