Unless you are dumping a ton of money into a property, it is not easy to find a place that you would want to own long term -- perhaps come back and live in -- and that would be cash flow positive after all expenses when you rent it.

We are selling our place. I can invest the money in bonds and get a known return. I can't see any reason for the residential real estate market to increase significantly in price in the next 5 years. There may be some areas where the market is over sold, but the risk you take is pretty high. Buy a residential house if you want to live in it.

Paul L