I can put up with a 1-hour work commute or a little more if it means having a house in a decently safe area.Other Info:Credit Score: 700s (due to student loan payments)Monthly Income: $4600Work Location: I commute to Northern Virginia and D.CGuys, I could really use your help or recommendations on what you would do if you were in my situation:Location: I'm thinking somewhere in PG County MD due to my commute, like Hyattsville MD.

As high rent drives people out of homes, the community at large pays the price for homelessness and the resultant problems that accompany that experience.   

Be a long-term investor focusing on controlling as many assets as possible most safely. 

Any part fo Texas you might recommend that are safe?

You'll need to really look at yourself and understand what you do well and enjoy, at the end of the day if you enjoy what you do you'll have more drive be successful everyday. 

Having watched many prior co-workers get paid, cash their check at the casino, and promptly deposit it all into a slot machine I can tell you with pretty good certainty that casinos don't have a positive effect on disposable income and good use of the existing income in the area surrounding :)Are there solid local employers OTHER than the casino in a 15-minute drive? 

An investor who has participated in a subject to transaction without lender approval should NOT assume that they are safe from note being accelerated because a certain amount of time has passed.  

How many weekends do you want to drive up north to find, purchase, setup and maintain an STR?

There are landlords who are proud to own properties while offering their communities a nice and safe place to live (and enjoying the benefits of having someone else pay for your appreciating asset).

I have a close friend who constantly drives up to the white mountains so can definitely understand the draw.