Otherwise you're literally just gambling, not investing. 

James you need a local investor who is also a broker that will go out and give you an opinion on it.I don't feel brokers/agents who are not investors themselves truly know how to evaluate risk versus return and location properly.There are rental markets where good can be defined.For instance certain areas of Atlanta are strong rental but strong crime as well.Those areas you can buy cheap but generally want a 15% CAP or higher to take it on.Nicer areas you might be fine with a 10% cap rate.It depends on if you are looking to hit massive cash flow to get out of the rat race or just want to buy a few tax shelters on the side in good areas and you already make a ton from your chosen profession.

Or is it really just take my best guess and gamble with the outcome in such a transient area?

Meaning, they have eligible to become a Broker, they passed the Broker exam, they have just chosen not to be the Broker of their office.

For the most part, people who have chosen a remote or traveling type job do so because they like experiencing other cities.

@Tyler Gamble welcome to BP. 

The "certified 203k contractor" is a training course that is provided to educate contractors on the requirements and can be presented to your lender to show that the contractor's being chosen have a competence level that exceeds the 203k requirements that the lender has to verify in underwriting the loan.

Land in our area doesn't come up very often, so its a gamble to just hold it and wait. 

Topic proposal for the podcast/instagram Live: Buyer Differentiator, and saying No to otherwise good deals that fall outside of your pre-established/chosen niche and real estate identity. 

If I was a gambling man, I would imagine they do Rookie again :)