Alameda could be a nice option, if work is close to the ferry...

Small towns have more limited options on house availability, and if you land in a town with a single powerhouse buyer you can find yourself picking up the leftovers. one of the big benifits is that same ability to control the market, I get sellers who call direct knowing i have a house in their area.

Lots of options to explore.

You can also google NC Standard Residential Lease and will find very similar options.

A staggering 86% of households earning under $25K spend over half their income on rent, highlighting the acute affordability crisis.Urgent calls for policy intervention, including incentives for housing production like the potential reintroduction of the 421-a tax abatement, are echoing through the city as leaders grapple with the severity of the housing shortage.

As other people have said, 250k can get you many options for appreciation in nearby cities and out of state.

No DTIs... might be a good option if you are concerned about this variable 

@Jordan Smith what is the difference between the licensed PM and the other option you mentioned.

One option is to rent out an RV (connect to plumbing and electric) and they live in your driveway. 

There are a few options.1.