Keep an eye on it though... you never know.

In fact, I have my eyes on my first duplex now and I am hoping to close this week!

Airbnb is hot in certain places, but unless you are there to keep an eye on the day to day operations, I wouldn't do it in Columbia or anywhere else.

No matter how you pay in NJ you'll have to keep a close eye on taxes if you buy and hold some areas are better than others in terms of taxes, you may want to only look in the areas where property taxes are on the lower side

What other areas should I keep an eye on as well?

@Pete Harper definitely a red flag in my eyes.

Married couples enjoy a $500k exemption - Source: Google)   So once you move into another primary residence, and if you begin using this home as a rental property, it becomes an "Investment Property" in the eyes of Uncle Sam which means that once you Sell that property in the future, you are subject to paying Capital Gains tax on that profit.  

I’m also an aspiring real estate investor looking to expand my knowledge and confidence as I begin my career as an investor.I’ve been listening to Bigger Pockets over the past couple months and it’s really opened my eyes to investing in real estate.

It will be fenced off to shield prying eyes from the house and have its own gated entrance on the side of the house.The whole house lot is surrounded by a 2 foot high (approx 4 foot wide) brick walled "garden" where shrubs and trees currently grow.

What other areas should I keep an eye on as well?