I prefer buy and hold deals, but flips are appealing to me as well.

You could easily find someone that has the dream like you had as the location is very appealing and has everything in place to go.

Part of my property's appeal, and also why I charge a fair amount per night, is the landscaping in the summer.

Nothing can replace that, but there is no reason why you can become just as knowledgeable about an out-of-state location as you could about a remote area of So Cal.Personally, I would find a metro area in the South East with a stable job base more appealing to invest in than Hemet or the High Desert.My two cents.  

Just go ahead and skim through them and choose the ones that appeal to you.

(with 5% vacancy rate, 10% property management, $100/mo repair reserve and $100/mo maintenance)... and that should increase that with the garage, privacy fence, and nicer landscaping to enhance the curb appeal.

You must appeal to a woman's taste and convince her this is home.

You will have to check with the laws in your state or consult with a real estate attorney to help you draft up this type of lease.If having a tenant/roommate down the hall doesn't appeal to you, you can still do house hacking by using an FHA loan to purchase a duplex, triplex or fourplex.

That bike that I had to have and love so much lost a lot of its appeal.

@Keith Nelson - that what is so appealing to me about Raleigh - 1% deals but with a pro-business, low tax area with a great climate the appreciation potential seems great.