Grinding it out in a tough investor market?

[Luke Moses]

I'm not new to investing but I am relatively new to wholesaling/sourcing my own deals. I got into wholesaling because I want to pick up great deals in my market that are seemingly unavailable on the MLS anymore. I'm a buy and hold investor at heart and I really need to add more rentals to my portfolio. I've been waffling around for a little over a year looking for good rentals that meet my criteria - 2% - but I'm only finding suburban properties that don't cash flow or hood houses that scare me. Should I start looking for properties outside of my city that meet my criteria?

I don't want to be the guy who is always chasing shiny objects but it sure seems like some other markets might just be easier. Source properties off the MLS, make some minor repairs and get a tenant in there. I have $ sitting on the sidelines ready to go but no where to put it. Sidebar - I buy cash and like to buy cheap properties in blue collar areas.

So, start searching elsewhere or find a way to make it work locally?  For those of you saying Houston is dirt cheap, your right, but not in comparison to years ago when I was buying 50k properties off the mls that rent for $1000. 

Thanks in advance for the input