Do I try and buy in my expensive market or elsewhere.
Member since 2026 · 12 posts · 9 votes
Do I try and buy in my expensive market or elsewhere.
Most Popular Reply
Mike PaolucciBusiness Member
Realtor · Columbus Cleveland Dayton, OH · Member since 2022 · 499 posts · 553 votesQuote from @Tucker Stark:
Hey everyone — what would you do as a first time home buyer?
My situation:
- Based in White Salmon, WA, with Portland nearby
- Median home price locally: ~$600K
- Income: $60K/year
- Credit: 760+
- Down payment: $40K
- Debt: $0
I love the idea of house hacking but I think I cant afford a single family or multi in my market. However there are homes in nearby towns ~30mins away that are within my budget but the rents and jobs arnet as strong. Is it smarter to try to buy locally with some creative financing or buy somewhere cheaper? Do I need to get a higher paying job?
Curious how you’d approach this. Thanks!
A higher paying job wouldn't hurt at all either.
You can also look into partnering with someone in your ecosystem (family/friend/someone else interested in house hacking).
Reafco - Mike Paolucci 512 Reviews
34 Replies
- MD/DC · Member since 2024 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes7mo
Hi excellent questions. First yeah you definitely need a higher paying job. A nice area 30 mins from a hot spot is likely a decent consideration for less expensive housing and possible increase in value as sprawl continues. That is also not an unreasonable commute as you get yourself established.
- 7moMike PaolucciBusiness MemberRealtor · Columbus Cleveland Dayton, OH · Member since 2022 · 499 posts · 553 votesBuying locally is always better than out of state. I'd consider a 30min drive to be local. Make sure you look into the rental market out there and do some due diligence on it but it may be a pretty good option for you to get started.
Quote from @Tucker Stark:
Hey everyone — what would you do as a first time home buyer?
My situation:
- Based in White Salmon, WA, with Portland nearby
- Median home price locally: ~$600K
- Income: $60K/year
- Credit: 760+
- Down payment: $40K
- Debt: $0
I love the idea of house hacking but I think I cant afford a single family or multi in my market. However there are homes in nearby towns ~30mins away that are within my budget but the rents and jobs arnet as strong. Is it smarter to try to buy locally with some creative financing or buy somewhere cheaper? Do I need to get a higher paying job?
Curious how you’d approach this. Thanks!
A higher paying job wouldn't hurt at all either.
You can also look into partnering with someone in your ecosystem (family/friend/someone else interested in house hacking).Reafco - Mike Paolucci 512 Reviews - Member since 2026 · 12 posts · 9 votes7mo
@Jules Aton@Mike Paolucci Thanks for the advice. Is there anything I can do from a lenders standpoint to sweeten the deal? Like getting a quote to repair walls and floors, Telling them im going to house hack, telling them im going to add vamue somehow, clear trees etc
- 7moArman AhmedPro MemberReal Estate Agent · Columbus Cleveland Dayton, OH · Member since 2024 · 2k+ posts · 954 votes
Quote from @Tucker Stark:
Hey everyone — what would you do as a first time home buyer?
My situation:
- Based in White Salmon, WA, with Portland nearby
- Median home price locally: ~$600K
- Income: $60K/year
- Credit: 760+
- Down payment: $40K
- Debt: $0
I love the idea of house hacking but I think I cant afford a single family or multi in my market. However there are homes in nearby towns ~30mins away that are within my budget but the rents and jobs arnet as strong. Is it smarter to try to buy locally with some creative financing or buy somewhere cheaper? Do I need to get a higher paying job?
Curious how you’d approach this. Thanks!
@Tucker Stark
Totally get the squeeze you’re feeling. With a $60K income, trying to force a first deal near White Salmon or even around Portland at $600K prices usually turns into being house-poor instead of house hacking. For a first property, you want simple and safe, not creative financing gymnastics. A lot of newer investors are having way better luck buying out of state in Midwest markets, where $40K can actually get you into a duplex or small multi that cash flows from day one and lets you build reserves and confidence. You can always come back and buy local later, but your first deal should make life easier, not tighter.- Member since 2026 · 12 posts · 9 votes7mo
@Arman Ahmed I havent done any research on buying out state. I will look into now but is there anything you can recommend? Thanks
- 7moFrankie VozziBusiness MemberMember since 2025 · 358 posts · 89 votes
Hey Tucker, with your income and down payment, buying a $600k property locally would be very tight. Lenders will still underwrite based on income and debt ratios, so creativity can’t fully replace affordability. For a first deal, it’s usually smarter to:
Buy within your qualifying range (even if it’s 20–30 minutes out), Focus on owner-occupied house hacking where rents can help offset the payment, Preserve flexibility rather than stretching too far on price, You don’t need a higher-paying job long term, but either increasing income or starting in a slightly cheaper market will make the first purchase much less stressful. Many investors start nearby, build equity and experience, then move up-market later. I sent you a DM let's connect!
I went through this exact calculation. Based in New York, priced out locally for anything that cash flows, ended up going OOS into the Midwest: Indianapolis first, now scanning Kansas City.
Mike's right that 30 minutes away is still local, and local is a real advantage. You can drive the comps, see the property yourself, and gut-check the neighborhood. At $60K income and $40K down, a house hack on something in that 30-minute radius with an FHA 3.5% down could get you into a property up to ~$350K depending on your DTI. That's probably your fastest path to getting started.
If you do end up looking at cheaper OOS markets — and a lot of people in high-cost areas eventually do — the one thing I'd flag is that the risk shifts from "can I afford this" to "do I actually know what I'm buying." Locally, you can see that the listing matches reality. OOS, you're relying on your agent, inspector, and PM to tell you the truth, and every one of them has a different incentive than you do. I've seen duplexes where the listing shows 3/1 per unit but county records show a completely different layout — unpermitted additions, square footage that doesn't exist in any public record. Your lender underwrites off listing data, your pro forma is built on listing data, and that gap doesn't surface until it's expensive.
For your situation specifically, I'd exhaust the local options first. FHA house hack in the 30-minute radius, build some equity and experience, then expand from a position of knowledge rather than starting OOS cold.
- Member since 2026 · 12 posts · 9 votes7mo
@Spence W. Thanks for the great advice. Im leaning towards the local markets.
- 7moDoug SmithPro MemberLender · Tampa, FL · Member since 2013 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
We have one borrower right now that went way out of the area they are accustomed to and the contractor they hired really screwed him. Putting on my investor had, we've done them one state over, but we have great "boots on the ground" (realtor and contractor) that we have built trust with. If you can build a trustworthy group of "boots on the ground", it works, but I've also been personally impacted several years ago when I tried to do it in a market where I hired people I had met on line that took advantage of me. You expect what you inspect, so just make sure you can stay on top of anywhere you go or have very trustworthy boots on the ground. Just my experience.
- Member since 2026 · 12 posts · 9 votes7mo
@Doug Smith the "you expect what you inspect" is a great rule of thumb and definitely something I will think about. Thanks!
- 7moAaron ZimmermanBusiness MemberAccountant · Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
As others said, 30 minutes could be a lot worse. It does help having a higher paying job. How feasible is it to get a higher paying job?
Brick House CPAs53 Reviews- Member since 2026 · 12 posts · 9 votes7mo
@Aaron Zimmerman I have a strong background in sales and have been searching around the job market seems tough right now so I havent heard anything concrete back with over 100+ applications sent. Hoping to get into that 6 figure range eventually but not sure.
- Real Estate Broker · Hyde Park Tampa, FL · Member since 2019 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes7mo
We invest to build wealth, preserve it - not to commit financial suicide which would be the case with what your considering by investing in your market. You can do better for yourself in a lower priced market. Get preapproved for financing before moving forward...you gotta do the math.
- Member since 2026 · 12 posts · 9 votes7mo
@Patricia Steiner appreciate the honest words.
- 7moTheresa HarrisPro MemberMember since 2019 · 15k+ posts · 11k+ votes
Local is better. I'd start by talking to a bank to see how much of a mortgage you could actually get and then what that would buy you. If you are looking to rent out rooms while you live there, you may make more money and could put 5% down, but your costs will be higher for payments and mortgage insurance.
I agree with others who said looking for a safe location and something simple is the best. Investing remotely can be a challenge especially if you don't know the area and is a lot bigger risk.
- Investor · Get yourself trained before doing something inadvisable. · Member since 2024 · 3k+ posts · 1k+ votes7mo
Quote from @Tucker Stark:
Hey everyone — what would you do as a first time home buyer?
My situation:
- Based in White Salmon, WA, with Portland nearby
- Median home price locally: ~$600K
- Income: $60K/year
- Credit: 760+
- Down payment: $40K
- Debt: $0
I love the idea of house hacking but I think I cant afford a single family or multi in my market. However there are homes in nearby towns ~30mins away that are within my budget but the rents and jobs arnet as strong. Is it smarter to try to buy locally with some creative financing or buy somewhere cheaper? Do I need to get a higher paying job?
Curious how you’d approach this. Thanks!
At $5,000 a month income, a "safe" payment including taxes and insurance is $1650 a month.
A $600,000 house with $40,000 down is a loan of $560,000 at 5.9% and PITI of $3,321 add taxes and insurance and maintenance and add vacancies.
When you are in a high tax state like Washington, that means it's harder to make it work and you can borrow less which means you buy less. Remember, you buy a house and keep it for years. A house requires maintenance.
When you are in a high tax state with high prices for housing like Washington, it's even harder.
When you are in a high tax state with high prices for housing, with unpredictable legislators like Washington, it's not worth it.
We moved from a very successful operation in Seattle because it just wasn't worth the risk anymore. What happens in Seattle, spreads throughout the state.From what I've read, Oregon is fast approaching the nonsense in Washington.
- Lender · Eugene, OR · Member since 2021 · 245 posts · 154 votes7mo
Quote from @Tucker Stark:
Hey everyone — what would you do as a first time home buyer?
My situation:
- Based in White Salmon, WA, with Portland nearby
- Median home price locally: ~$600K
- Income: $60K/year
- Credit: 760+
- Down payment: $40K
- Debt: $0
I love the idea of house hacking but I think I cant afford a single family or multi in my market. However there are homes in nearby towns ~30mins away that are within my budget but the rents and jobs arnet as strong. Is it smarter to try to buy locally with some creative financing or buy somewhere cheaper? Do I need to get a higher paying job?
Curious how you’d approach this. Thanks!
Hey Tucker, good on you for starting your journey now.
From a lender's perspective, $60k income with $40k for down payment and closing costs isn't going to get you very far. With that you'd qualify for a loan amount around $315k, so a total purchase price in the $340k range for a SFR. You could up your buying power by looking at a duplex and having rental income added to your base pay, but in the White Salmon/Hood River area, that's not going to get you much.
A higher-paying job would certainly help, as could having a family member or friend be a co-signer on a mortgage like @Mike Paolucci said.
I'm far more in favor of buying local for your first purchase, as you get more of a hands-on (literally) experience being a landlord and maintaining a property, rather than having to trust others for every aspect if you go out of state.
Happy to talk more and look at scenarios if you'd like. Shoot me a DM.
- 7moCamren BerryPro MemberAZ · Member since 2021 · 86 posts · 14 votes
The biggest leverage move is price. Midwest markets tend to offer far better rent-to-price ratios, lower entry costs, and more forgiving margins for first deals, especially on single-family rentals.
Buying where the numbers actually cash flow gives you room to learn, make mistakes, and still move forward. You can always come back to higher-priced markets later once income and equity are working for you.
- 7moDivin KanyamaBusiness MemberAccountant · Seattle, WA · Member since 2025 · 433 posts · 176 votes
That’s an important question, @Tucker Stark. The choice really depends on your goals—whether you’re prioritizing short-term versus long-term objectives, and whether you care more about property appreciation or cash flow. If appreciation is your main focus, Washington and Oregon have shown steady growth in value over the years. House hacking remains a solid entry point, as you likely already know, though securing a worthwhile deal may require significant research.
If cash flow is your priority, buying out of state—particularly in the Midwest—is worth considering. Keep in mind, though, that this approach brings its own set of challenges, especially when managing properties from afar.
- 7moAlfath AhmedBusiness MemberReal Estate Agent · Columbus, OH · Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
Quote from @Tucker Stark:
Hey everyone — what would you do as a first time home buyer?
My situation:
- Based in White Salmon, WA, with Portland nearby
- Median home price locally: ~$600K
- Income: $60K/year
- Credit: 760+
- Down payment: $40K
- Debt: $0
I love the idea of house hacking but I think I cant afford a single family or multi in my market. However there are homes in nearby towns ~30mins away that are within my budget but the rents and jobs arnet as strong. Is it smarter to try to buy locally with some creative financing or buy somewhere cheaper? Do I need to get a higher paying job?
Curious how you’d approach this. Thanks!
Buying locally makes sense for a lot of people and i'm glad you brought this to the forumns @Tucker Stark
You will need to look into doing out of state investing. That is how most investors succeed. Look into the midwest where it is landlord friendly and a ton of tech investments are going on.
Your money will go much further. Connect with a good investor agent in the midwest that can connect you with his team - contractor, lender, property manager.He will also send you on-market//off-market deal flow as well.
ReafCo | Ahmed Group 539 Reviews - 7moDrew SygitBusiness MemberProperty Manager · Royal Oak, MI · Member since 2012 · 12k+ posts · 9k+ votes
Quote from @Tucker Stark:
Hey everyone — what would you do as a first time home buyer?
My situation:
- Based in White Salmon, WA, with Portland nearby
- Median home price locally: ~$600K
- Income: $60K/year
- Credit: 760+
- Down payment: $40K
- Debt: $0
I love the idea of house hacking but I think I cant afford a single family or multi in my market. However there are homes in nearby towns ~30mins away that are within my budget but the rents and jobs arnet as strong. Is it smarter to try to buy locally with some creative financing or buy somewhere cheaper? Do I need to get a higher paying job?
Curious how you’d approach this. Thanks!
You’re ALWAYS better off investing locally, where it’s easier to:
- Learn the market
- Network to find deals
- Network to find contractors
- Be more hands-on
- Driveby property to keep tabs on it
- Network to find a decent Property Management Company (PMC)
Next best location is somewhere else you lived, where you have an existing network of family & friends to help you as accomplish the above list as needed.
If you invest OOS, your biggest challenge won't be finding properties to meet your goals on paper, it’ll be successfully outsourcing all of the above.
The biggest mistake we see OOS investors making in our market, over and over again, is not fully understanding Neighborhood/Property/Tenant Classes and how they impact your probability of success!
They all run their ROI numbers assuming Class A results – when buying Class B, C & even D rentals.
Then they’re shocked when their performance expectations aren't met😞
If you choose to invest OOS, and have little to no landlord experience, we highly recommend targeting Class B Neighborhoods/Properties/Tenants. If you target Class C, you better be prepared emotionally & financially for plenty of challenges.
You can find Class B properties in the Midwest to BRRRR, but it will take more digging and YOU will need to understand how to analyze & identify them - because a lot of agents, wholesalers, PMCs, etc. will try to sell you Class C or D misrepresented as Class B:
- Many of them don't know/care what Class the properties are, so they're incompetent.
- Others know exactly what they are doing, so should be labeled as crooks!
EITHER WAY YOU LOSE!
Why is Property Class so important for investors to understand and apply in their investing strategies?
Because the Property Class dictates the Class of the tenant pool that the property will attract.
The Tenant Class greatly impacts rental income stability and property maintenance/damage by tenants.
Both Property Class and Tenant Class will affect what type of contractors, handymen and property management companies you should target and be willing to deal with a property.
The Property Class will also impact the maintenance & renovations you do to, “Maintain to the Neighborhood”.
Why is that important?
Well, if you buy & renovate a property in Class D area to Class A standards, what Tenant Class will actually rent it?
Or, if you put several Class D tenants in a Class A four-plex, what do you think will happen to the property?
So, if you fail to apply the correct assumptions to a property, your expectations won’t be met, and it may even be a financial disaster.
We use the following to rank Property Classes, in order of importance:
- Property Tenant Pool: closely linked to location, but not always.
- Property Location: closely linked to tenant pool, but not always.
- Property Condition & Amenities: it’s important to, “Maintain to the Neighborhood.”
Key metrics for each Property Class:
Class A Properties:
Tenant Pool: Majority of FICO scores 680+, no convictions/evictions in last 7 years.
Tenant Default: 0-5% probability of eviction or early lease termination.
Section 8: Class A rents are too high and won’t be approved.
Vacancies: 5-10%, depending on market conditions.
Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, 3-5 years for positive cashflow, but you get highest relative rent & value appreciation.Class B Properties:
Tenant Pool: Majority of FICO scores 620-680, some blemishes, no convictions/evictions in last 5 years.
Tenant Default: 5-10% probability of eviction or early lease termination.
Vacancies: 10-15%, depending on market conditions.
Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, 1-3 years for positive cashflow, balanced amounts of relative rent & value appreciation.
Section 8: Class B rents are usually too high for the Section 8 program.Class C Properties:
Tenant Pool: Majority of FICO scores 560-620, many blemishes, but should have no convictions/evictions in last 3 years. Verifying recent 2-years of rental history very important! Same for 2-years of job/income stability.
Tenant Default: 10-20% probability of eviction or early lease termination.
Section 8: Class C rents usually meet program requirements, proper screening still recommended.
Vacancies: 10-20%, depending on market conditions and tenant screening.
Cashflow vs Appreciation: Should cashflow immediately, at the lower end of relative rent & value appreciation.
Class D Properties:
Tenant Pool: Majority of FICO scores under 560, little to no good tradelines, lots of collections & chargeoffs, but should have no convictions/evictions in last 12 months. Verifying last 2-years of rental history and income/employment extremely important to find the “best of the worst”.
Tenant Default: 20-30% probability of eviction or early lease termination.
Section 8: Class D rents meet program requirements, often challenges to pass Section 8 inspection.
Vacancies: 20%+, depending on market conditions and tenant screening.
Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, all cashflow with little, maybe even negative, relative rent & value appreciation.
Where did we get our FICO credit score information from?
Check out this chart:
FICO Score
Pct of Population
Default Probability
800 or more
13.00%
1.00%
750-799
27.00%
1.00%
700-749
18.00%
4.40%
650-699
15.00%
8.90%
600-649
12.00%
15.80%
550-599
8.00%
22.50%
500-549
5.00%
28.40%
Less than 499
2.00%
41.00%
Make sure you understand the Class of properties you are looking at and the corresponding results to expect.
Horror Stories from those that did NOT Understand What they were Buying:
https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/48/topics/1137397-baltimore-a-path-to-never-ending-pain
https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/432/topics/1231840-sell-at-a-loss-or-rent-at-a-loss
https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/311/topics/840134-memphis-turnkey-tenant-turnover-costs
Logical Property Management4.9460 Reviews - Specialist · Member since 2026 · 17 posts · 8 votes7mo
Quote from @Tucker Stark:
Hey everyone — what would you do as a first time home buyer?
My situation:
- Based in White Salmon, WA, with Portland nearby
- Median home price locally: ~$600K
- Income: $60K/year
- Credit: 760+
- Down payment: $40K
- Debt: $0
I love the idea of house hacking but I think I cant afford a single family or multi in my market. However there are homes in nearby towns ~30mins away that are within my budget but the rents and jobs arnet as strong. Is it smarter to try to buy locally with some creative financing or buy somewhere cheaper? Do I need to get a higher paying job?
Curious how you’d approach this. Thanks!
If I were in your position, I’d focus less on “buying in my market vs elsewhere” and more on whether the numbers make sense from a cash flow and risk standpoint.
At $60K income with $40K down in a $600K median market, you’d likely be stretching pretty thin — especially as a first-time buyer. House hacking works best when the deal reduces your monthly risk, not increases it.
Buying 30 minutes away isn’t automatically bad. The bigger question is:
• Does the rent realistically offset your payment?
• Is there steady employment in that area?
• Are you buying based on lifestyle preference or math?Sometimes the smartest move isn’t forcing a deal locally — it’s improving income, increasing savings, or waiting for the right property to appear.
I’d personally prioritize financial flexibility over location pride on the first deal.
Curious — have you run the numbers on what your monthly payment would look like at today’s rates?
It can be difficult doing long distance real estate investing like I did. You never know what a property manager might do. I remember reading my monthly statement once where one day there was a charge for a used refrigerator when the original one broke down, the next day there was a charge to fix the used refrigerator, and the next day there was a charge for another used refrigerator to replace the broken used refrigerator, hahaha. For the money I was charged the property manager could have bought a super nice new refrigerator!
- Real Estate Agent · Chicago, IL · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes7mo
Anything within 2 hours is local. Go for it!
- New to Real Estate · Rochester NH · Member since 2025 · 7 posts · 12 votes7moCongrats on beginning your investment! It looks like you got a lot of great info here from others. Just remember switching jobs can be tricky with banks some may require you to have at least 6 months at your current job.
- Rental Property Investor · Boston, MA · Member since 2016 · 82 posts · 27 votes7mo
Are you willing to move out of state? In order to house hack you need to live in the property (forgive me if rules have changed!). If you are willing to move then by all means seek out a better market and house hack in that market - that would actually be a great strategy. But if you aren't willing to move out of state, I agree with others a 30 min commute is not a big deal for a great deal that will jumpstart your investing career. You can always move back after a few years. You need to make sure you are getting a great deal though. First, look at markets you expect to appreciate the most. Then seek out the properties in those markets with the best after repair rent to purchase price ratios and look at the expected expenses for each property to find the best cash flowing ones... then make your offers!
- Realtor · Topeka, KS · Member since 2019 · 3 posts · 1 vote7moIt depends on what your goals are. Cashflow I’d recommend a cheaper market. Equity maybe a pricier one. Out of state investing can be really beneficial if you do it correctly
- 7moRyan ThomsonBusiness MemberReal Estate Agent · Colorado Springs, CO · Member since 2018 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
One angle nobody mentioned: assumable mortgages. The lender told you you qualify for $315K at 6.25%. But if you find a seller with a VA or FHA loan from 2020-2022, you can assume their rate instead. $315K at 2.75% is $1,284/month. That same payment at 6.25% gets you only $196K in buying power. That is a $120K swing just from the rate.
The Pacific Northwest has VA buyers, especially near military-adjacent areas. The Columbia River Gorge market will have homes with assumable VA loans. The process takes 45-90 days and requires qualifying with the original servicer.
The catch: you have to cover the gap between the purchase price and the loan balance in cash. If a $400K home has a $310K assumable at 2.75%, you are bringing $90K to closing. With only $40K down, large-gap assumptions do not work. But smaller gaps are common, and a 2.75% rate on even $250K is $1,030/month vs $1,540/month at 6.25%, putting you in a 30-minute property that suddenly cash flows.
Search Roam or AssumedRate to filter Northern WA listings for assumable FHA/VA loans specifically.
The Assumable Guy544 Reviews - 7moBernice RetzloffPro MemberMemphis, TN · Member since 2024 · 234 posts · 100 votes
Hey @Tucker Stark! You’re actually in a solid spot. A 760+ credit score, no debt, and $40K saved on a $60K income shows discipline. The challenge is simply your market. With a $600K median price, you’re likely priced out of traditional house hacking unless you stretch, and stretching usually creates stress, not leverage.
You've got a few paths. You could try creative financing locally (FHA, seller concessions, small multifamily), but only if the numbers truly work. You could buy in a nearby, cheaper town. Just make sure the job base and rental demand are stable. Or, you could focus on increasing income for a year or two. A bump in salary dramatically improves borrowing power and flexibility.
A lot of investors in high-cost markets either upgrade income first or invest out of state where the rent-to-price ratios make more sense. I primarily work in the Memphis, TN market helping out-of-state investors grow rental portfolios, and many West Coast buyers look there because the fundamentals allow for real cash flow without overleveraging.
Bottom line: don’t force a deal just to get in. Make sure your first purchase strengthens your position, not strains it.
Happy to connect if you're interested in investing out-of-state!
- 7moGabriel GraumannPro MemberReal Estate Broker · Phoenix, AZ · Member since 2019 · 165 posts · 100 votes
@Tucker Stark your long-term investment goals should dictate your decision, nothing else. Unless the assumable VA/FHA loan suggestion is an option for you, with a house right where you want to be, then I would wait and continue banking your down payment. Traditional investment principles do not change. Location is key for real estate: a cheaper house in a challenging area (ie. low job and population growth) 30-mins out is likely a poor investment. Equity appreciation and rent growth occur in areas where there are JOBS, because POPULATION follows jobs. Renting has perks, as in no maintenance or cap-ex requirements.
Looking in alternative markets can work fine for investment properties, but you said first time homebuyer so I assume you're looking for a place to live in yourself, not just invest in.
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