You can buy real estate in communities or even states you don't live in. I'm on the west coast and my RE portfolio is all in the mid west. This book is a basic overview: https://www.audible.com/pd/Long-Distance-Real-Estate-Investing-Audiobook/B078J6JBPC?source_code=GPAGBSH0508140001&ipRedirectOverride=true&gclid=CjwKCAiAxvGfBhB-EiwAMPakqn65zrwrYg1NFwY8lgaZBwTBajRr6DaZsPXQN_K-XLOMKEycPNcBBRoC8IYQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds