It's not an emotional decision.

Plus I'm emotionally attached to what I want in the long term (potentially having property near me for family) and that is limiting my ability to just crunch numbers and invest where the deals make sense financially.Long term goal would still be a property near me for my family but if OOS investing allows that to happen in the end then it really doesn't matter if I invest locally now or not.

Don't get emotionally wrapped up in the evils of humanity.

Absolutely nothing evoked any emotion out of me.. looks dull and lifeless.    

I don’t us emotions or develop any relationship with the tenant other than a lease agreement .  

In some cases, it's a matter of time, in other cases they have emotionally made up their mind and will not be swayed by cogent advice and quantitative evidence.I recently fell into the same trap as I did a poor job "convincing" Kiyosaki fanboys about the many fallacies in Rich Dad, Poor Dad.

That way you take a less emotional stance and look at applicants objectively.  

In case of real estate; master your emotions.

The owner seems to have just moved on emotionally and cut his losses but would like to get as much out of the deal as he can manage. 

Please do not react emotionally to sell and make a bad situation worse.