Local allows you to use your local knowledge, allows you to house hack get the highest LTV loan with good OO terms, perform heroics if required, and benefit from outstanding historical appreciation.  

Tax time and a K1 to offset passive gains further reducing your taxable passive income, that's the benefit of real estate even as an LP.

I’d say the best thing to do would be to perform a cost benefit analysis (CBA).

Definitely run the numbers and see what would benefit you the most.

@Michelle Sanchez You're not in situation where buying property is going to BENEFIT you.

@Jennifer Roberts Are you looking for tax benefits or liability protection?

I disagree on the benefit of cameras being made visible, as people will steal or destroy them for sport - been through it.

Moving into a duplex without a tenant might be a negative hit to your cash flow, but I'd guess that it would likely be net positive change for you overall (in terms of total net worth) once you consider the equity you're building instead of paying someone else rent (plus all the tax benefits and everything else that goes along with home ownership).If you absolutely couldn't financially handle not having a tenant for a few months, then maybe wait, but I'd be surprised if that were the case.

Cheaper cost of living, lower wages, and high quality talent pool, as well as other more corporate friendly benefits.

Benefits both parties.