Should first purchase be the safest in (terms of financial risk)?

[Will Poon]

Hi BP! - I am going to start my RE journey in a few months. What is your opinion on the first purchase being the safest in terms of financial risk? For example lower risk A-B neighborhoods vs buying in a higher risk C neighborhood. A growing population state vs losing population state. I know every situation and circumstance is different but I am looking for some insight or anecdotes to help me make a decision on my first purchase. My ultimate goal is to leave my W-2 asap.

[Brent Coombs]

Originally posted by @Will Poon:

Thanks JD- Im looking into out of state investments like Dallas, Cleveland, Indy. My question is- Would I look for higher returns and higher risk or lower returns but lower risk. 

That's the age old question, which has ZERO chance of being definitively answered here*! 

* (or anywhere else for that matter!)

Your "ultimate goal", being: "higher returns" - already tells you the answer for YOU, doesn't it?...