Should I buy and rent out a condo or house?

We have a good loan available to us to help with the costs of purchasing a home. We may move out of the country within a few years, and I was hoping, in order to make use of the loan and pad the wallet, that buying and then renting out a condo would be a good financial choice. I figure the maintanence would be included with a condo making it easier for me to manage abroad... Obviously, I know there are factors such as economy of the location and finding a good deal and HOA. If done well, which is a wiser choice and why, renting out a house or a condo? What are costs to consider that may not be so obvious?