Where in todays terms was Bilam from? Was he real prophet? If so, why was he prophesying in that land, to those people?

The Torah says that Balaam was from Pethor on the Euprates river.(Bamidbar Chapter 21) Some identify Pethor as Pitru or the Egyptian Pedru , on the upper Euprates. (See Living Torah by Rabbi Aryek Kaplan zt"l, to Bamidbar chapter 21) He did receive prophecy there but was asked to do so in Moab which must have been at least a 300 mile journey.