Florida vs. Northeast

[David Tower]

Hello BP,

I'm looking for some sagely advice. I'm still getting started and looking to break in to the wholesaling business very soon (also rehabbing and buy+hold).

I plan on wholesaling while keeping my 9-5 job at least until I have built cash reserves of $50k.

My dilemma though is that my girlfriend really wants to move to Florida (I enjoy it there also) but I'm from the Mass/Rhode Island area and I don't know anything about Florida real estate. I just got back from Clearwater beach and we drove all around the tampa/clearwater area and I gotta say.....a lot of neighborhoods are run down with closed businesses all over the place.

Does anyone have any insight on starting somewhere brand new vs. your hometown area as a brand new investor OR Florida real estate investing in general?

Maybe it's just a confidence thing being brand new, quitting the J.O.B, but my heart tells me that Rhode Island is where I should start until I'm established in this business.

Thanks!