You'd want to plan on lots of trips there, though.As you noted it's going to be tougher to find candidate properties for BRRRR in Nova - tougher to find, higher price points, more competition, etc.

I'm currently on a trip to see several properties I bought out of state for the first time.

Sounds like your trip is coming up soon!

I would try to lay out the situation as best as possible to a lawyer that specializes in commercial leases in your area that can help you build out a template that you can tweak for the different type of tenant (retail, maker, storage).Things to keep in mind are hours they are allowed in or must be open, noise/music, exact responsibilities for anything that could be considered a liability (snow removal near their entrance, tripping hazards just outside their exact space, etc), specify their insurance requirements, etc.

Not a great part of the year to be tripping over deals without fighting for them with other investors (even off market ones from wholesalers).

Saves on gas and parking, and it prevents me from making little side trips to the store unless it is absolutely necessary (and fits in my backpack). 

Can I use the expenses receipts for those two trips, for properties purchased in a different city?

This would let you make trips to see properties, meet folks in person, etc. 

When I lived in Hawaii, I desperately wanted to buy a home with the long-term plan of renting it out and having a tax-deductible trip to the islands each year.

If gas doubles in price, people reconsider long road trips.