This is an awesome way to purchase real estate right now! 

If the IRR is higher than my real estate expectations, awesome. 

It’s awesome that you’re taking steps toward buying in an area you love and planning for the future—whether it’s as a second home or a long-term investment for your kids, this is a meaningful goal.

@Lilia Matlov awesome post , do you think you can make up those 5 years as you have learnt so much now?

I wouldn't know the areas to look out for or to stay away from so any advice would be awesome!

I'm new here so may not have a full view but the overall climate seems to be-anything to make a deal-ridiculous financing, leverage the home you life in-who cares where it is located it will be easy to rent/manage from hours away-don't be gracious with your tenants and housekeepersMy guess is a tilt toward young and not financially stable which is awesome if remaining sensible. 

Seller financing will be "golden", turn-key is the awesome sauce, and with a target of APPRECIAITON, so appreciating market NOT based on hopeium but on MATHS.

BiggerPockets is an awesome online community for anyone interested in real estate investing.

Sounds Awesome.

Brandon Turner has an awesome podcast called "Better Life".