So any pre-approval done with rents factored in will have to be hypothetical in nature.

Naturally, the prices of products and services will go up, so wages I imagine will have to coincide with that. 

However, you may be able to do what you're thinking depending on the nature of the LLC.You can change the deed on a property but you cannot change the taxpayer. 

harder to do than most people realize.. since your in E Wen  maybe Winnemucca would be a good under the radar place that has none of the natural disasters you mention.. maybe just a tiny bit of snow .. and you could drive there in a long day.. on cool back country roads.. 

Naturally I sat down with my family and explained these options and they are comfortable with anything that I choose. 

I want to begin with investments that are more passive in nature and then move on to more hands-on investing.

Hard to say what the real estate market around here will do right now, so it's hard to estimate how much money I will have to spend.I think Penticton is a great investment area as it is a popular and quickly growing retirement area for Canadians as well the surronding area has a strong tourism, wine, and natural resources industries. 

Texas naturally has very little red tape and is much more lenient with businesses involved in construction of new property. 

So naturally the market you are most familiar with will give you the best chance at success.

I find the best mentors in any field are found naturally.