I'm looking to house hack a multifamily in the asbury/long branch/ neptune area myself.

My ask is -should I continue to rent and buy rentals in a different area or should I get my own house in order (pun intended) then branch out into investment.

yea, for right now I think my first property should be close (like not more than an hour drive) but I had thought about branching out to iowa city.

(WRB only lends within 50 miles of a branch location I believe.) 

I have been looking to branch out of state for investment properties.

I'm facing the same issues you are so I'm branching out to markets further out as well.

We will branch out as we can build our knowledge, experience, network, etc.I look forward to learning more and growing with you all on our journey.

I've been branching out looking near some of the other cities in Virginia looking for a good deal.I haven't been to any meetups here but I'd like find find one that isn't a trap, as you put it.

Even though I currently live/rent in NYC, my purchases will be a few hours from my location and eventually branching out of state, but the details will come in time.

I do all my banking there for now as I really have enjoyed working with Alice at the Lewiston branch.