I live in Littleton and I'm planning on buying in the west Denver metro and I'm familiar with the area, but additional data points are always helpful.

Plan on buying more properties and becoming a realtor again.

I am based out of Phoenix and plan to work here.

In most cases, the owner/possible seller would want an option fee paid up front to entice them to entering into the option to purchase agreement, so assuming that is the case, would enter into the agreement with a pretty firm plan to purchase and not lose that option fee. 

I am a buy-and-hold investor and planning to hold long term (10+ years). 

This was never my plan to assume it.

Rental properties have the potential to produce passive income over time with prudent planning and management.Syndications or Partnerships: To pool resources and participate in larger buildings or projects, think about joining real estate syndications or forming partnerships with other investors.

It’s like the automatic debit method that some bill companies do.

The plan to move into the duplex and then out after a year or two, and do that again, is the strategy that my family has used.  

Additionally, they decided to take a vacation at a critical juncture - the week of closing, without notice or planning - rendering them unreachable and leaving me in a difficult position.This experience has led me to question whether I need to stick with an attorney in the state where I'm purchasing property.