I just wrote on somebody else's forum post this morning saying that they just need to continue taking steps forward and not worry whether or not a strategy will work haRick Harmon, I think you and I are going to have a solid friendship.I'm really sorry to hear about the stroke.

Ryan, I think you have to take in to consideration more factors than the ones you proposed.

The bottom line is there is a "right way" to invest successfully in other markets as a buy-and-hold investor.Selecting your market comes down to fundamentals like employment, job growth, and other economic factors.

Note: depending on alot of different factors.

Virtually all discussions of debt put forth by those advocating no debt fail to include a key factor.

Here we are today, and if those people had spent as much time and energy focused on investing as they did on "preparing for the end," they'd have made a lot of money over the past few years.Nobody knows where the economy is headed, and even economic geniuses can't account for the non-monetary factors that influence national and global markets.

Another factor to consider is you get agents bringing you the best deals when they know they get the back end sale too.

So all other factors being held equal, Texas might be the best bet.

I was listening to the BP podcast this mornning and @Mehran Kamari mentioned a checklist of questions to ask a potential PM, so I've contacted him about that, as well.I also like your unequivocal answer to being touch with tenants--"No."

I stumbled on it this morning, and it is already proving to be a great find.