When i started investing i thought the investing where i lived was the only option. 

any suggestions on how I should compare these 2 options?

Best of luck and if you ever want to brainstorm options, happy to chat!

If you move up into Pinellas/St Pete, Largo has some options.

Florida, particularly Tampa and Central Florida, is a strong option because of steady demand, landlord-friendly laws, and solid appreciation.If you’re debating between short-term and long-term rentals, I’d say long-term rentals are more stable, especially with the recent saturation of Airbnbs.

Off-market deals give you control over pricing, terms, and creative financing options.

Assuming they're telling the truth what are my options.

You need the backup option in case the mid-term rental market changes.Minimizing turn costs and downtime is critical.

We're always looking to expand our network and explore new investment avenues.Regarding meet up groups for real estate investing, there are several options available in the UAE.

However based on these experiences still seem too risky versus just going after some of the options with RealCrowd that seem attractive and proven.