We don’t need the income from this company to live, so I want to use the profits to provide health care benefits to my father (he has ongoing needs), and so we can travel around to find new deals for the company.

Investing out of state will require you to travel or rely on other partners but it's doable. 

Do it with some focus,  and understand that knowledge is power, even if most of the knowledge you get will be from the failures of your actions, deeds, and that path you travel to get to the next level!

I have put offers in on two properties, had inspections done on both (Traveled over 900 miles TWICE to come see the properties, too), only to find out AFTERWARDS that 1. the first property house wasn't ever permitted and can't be financed and 2. this property's well shared by 9 houses won't qualify for FHA.Is this stuff that the agent should be checking for before I put in an offer? 

I know when I travel, it’s unique and interesting to stay somewhere that inspires me.  

I lived southwest of Chicago and would travel I-80 into Iowa often.

I have not traveled there.

TALK to your potential team members, and make sure you guys are all in the same boat and that everyone in that boat knows the destination you are traveling to.All personal opinions and experiences of course, but if I had the chance to do it over, I would have 'jumped' sooner, and I would have invested time into interviewing my real estate agent (as a buyer) BEFORE I signed on to work with them.Looking forward to hearing what other say on this topic!

Structural repairs from sinking floors to bowing external walls.

I'm open to travelling or buying out of my region.