I've just started listening to the podcasts on my commute.

You are trying to figure out if you can invest from a distance and learn the tax implications of doing so.  

With that, I am looking to start investing in RE again from a distance and once I am able to return to Raleigh, I will already have a portfolio started. 

So I usually find the distance through Google map and just record the times visited the property.

In a lower cost area you can spread your risk over more property rather then a few in NoVa but it is a difficult commute.  

I should have mentioned I had a 40 hour a week, (50-60 including the 2-4 hours commute each day) only paying just above minimum wage.

BECAUSE she know within the 5 mins she in town for the first time, that IT WAS WALKING DISTANCE to the HOSPITALS, Public Transport,  it had PARKING, and it will RENT to MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL!

One is  about 25mins walking distance to the Path close to the St Peter university.

I've lived an hour from Memphis most of my life and I wouldn't dare buy a rental there, I definitely wouldn't do it long distance.

If you're looking for buy-and-hold, I know of no better values than SFR student co-housing, with many bedrooms, within biking or walking distance of Everett College/WSU at the north end of Broadway in Everett.