Our lot is fenced in and we cannot see where he lives but close enough to be of concern, but we want to stay in the same town until the kids are finished school.So, my question is this, would it make sense to rent our home (roughly $2300-2500/mo. as per real-estate agent claims), with the stipulation that the garage is used for my business AND buy a home nearby?

Double close: You do actually purchase a property and then sell it the same day to another buyer.

.: Quote from @Jay Hinrichs:  Good for you too, Jay, for closing and funding so many transactions.

I have close to 30 units which are all doing MTR and are managed by us.

I'd like to purchase an STR (I probably should have said that), being that I live in South Florida, Orlando isn't too far, but also not close enough that I can drop by anytime, so I thought I'd need a PM, or perhaps just a great team in place as far as a mechanic and cleaner, realtor and lender.Thanks again!  

I'd recommend starting with the lower hanging fruit than a large basement reno - if your comps are close but don't quite get you to your number.Finishing the basement (with proper egress) could push you over the top, but confirm with an appraiser first to ensure it counts.

Additionally, the price point is still cheap enough to find the 1% rule and positive cash flow and it's super landlord friendly (so you will never have to go through a 12 month eviction or anything close to that!).

Whether you’re a new investor or a seasoned pro, the competition is fierce, and the best opportunities often seem just out of reach.That’s why BiggerPockets is teaming up with DealMachine to bring you the Off-Market Deal Finding 5-Day Challenge—a completely FREE event designed to help you find your first (or next) off-market deal FAST.Here’s What You’ll Get:📅 3 Live Sessions led by Matt Kamp, VP at DealMachine and a real estate investing expert who’s helped customers close over 15,000 deals.🎁 $2,000 in Prizes just for joining the challenge!

I've often found that the biggest competitive advantage you have when you are getting started is proximity! 

@Michael Magno Just closed a deal in Baltimore and familiar with the area.