Story I got was that she lives out of state, thought she had family local to help manage it but they are moving.

Quote from @Maurice Nkonsissie: HelloMy name is Maurice, I live in the greater DMV area.

Hello, it is a owner passed and child wants out because they are absentee, no section 8 and the tenants have lived there already for long time 13, 6, and 4 years with no desire to leave as long as I can keep the rent same or close to same and they are willing to sign 3 year leases.I have looked at single family houses and have not found a deal that compares.

I specialize in STR & Co-living concepts, which I recommend for the highest rental income potential! 

It very well could become a large enough investment to be worthwhile, also solving for "unexpected emergencies ", for the most part and would an easy self management situation if you were to live onsite in one of your connected townhomes.

I was forced to buy my first house because my roommate moved out and I couldn't afford to live alone.

I'm in the greater Boston area and I wasn't able to fully live for free but I was spending about $700 on my unit.

(They did multiple inspections, also came for several full afternoons to just poke around the house while we were living there.) 

These are not long-term rental properties, and our guests are traveling to the desert for vacation, not because they need a place to live for two nights on a weekend. 

If I were new I would simply stick to areas close to where I live.