Also considering North Carolina as a potential market to invest in and in the semi-distant future maybe move there.

Always be skeptical of distant expectations.

The boyfriend seemed a little distant, they had recently lost their young child.

But I feel you will be successful in the near and distant future. 

If it means for you to invest in a distant market with extra effort, keep in mind you compete with local investors who live there.

Lastly, the mortgage interest deduction on a principal residence stands a pretty good chance of being altered in the not too distant future.

yet somewhat distant from the turmoil of the major cities.

That is...unless you are paying a premium for the property to account for the distant cash flow.

But given the track record of banks in the not so distant past.

There are a lot of other benefits that need to be account for such as taxes and the power of amortization, especially these days when you can acquire an asset today that will probably have to pay for it with cheaper dollars in the not too distant future.