I am actually doing this right now:I used my cash to build a tiny house on wheels, got the tax records of the area I need to live in, found all the vacant land and sent out letters asking to "rent" the vacant land with the intention of living on the property in the tiny house.This gave me the opportunity to cut down on my commute to work and the ability to save 80% of my income every month to then invest in real estate in the local market.

While listening to podcasts on your commute is an excellent idea, my personal opinion is that it's too far.

Where are the jobs located and where are the your potential renters commuting to work ?

What commute do you have now?

Just make sure you pull the rental comps when going further north - it’s important to make sure there are companies already established within a 1 hour commute or looking to move to that area within the 1-2 years that you will be house hacking.

Commuting to Seattle for work.

I listen to podcasts and read every day (long commute).

Continuing to look at properties within a commutable distance to Seattle/Bellevue as I do have to be in the cities a few days a week for work.

I work 9 hours and commute for an hour and a half.

She still works in Seattle and commutes and we still own the condo in Seattle which we lived at.