After reading about your desire to move south ( don't blame you, I grew up in Michigan)  I would change my vote to sell.

I am an American but I grew up in Portugal (I lived in Loures for 12 years). 

I grew up and lived in Fernley until about 5 years ago when we moved to the Seattle area.  

@Adrienne Bryson,I grew up in a house like that - small Cape Cod, circa. 740 sq ft.

Some investors get worried investing in New Brunswick due to the population decreasing over the last census period, but the Moncton CMA actually grew by 4%.Happy to connect with anyone wanting to discuss investing in the Maritimes or investing from a distance.Brad

I am looking for the best bang for the buck and even considering places in South Texas where I grew up.

Evans I grew up right down the street from Reading, MA and I house hack a 4-family in Haverhill (North of Boston).

Like Paul stated a good PM would go a long way, but I would say most people who even grew up in Cincinnati don't even know the less desirable areas very well.

I grew up in the flooring business and now have taken the helm since my dad's retirement. 

Also tapping into private money instead of hard money will give you more control of the transaction (and keep more of the profits.)In the beginning you have to do what you have to do: may be give up a higher percentage of the profit to a local lender or use hard money, but soon enough you will have the experience (and closings) to be able to raise private money and pay less.Years ago, when I transitioned from using hard money to private money, my fix and flip business exponentially grew overnight.