We have to accept a biased opinion of value in order to base all other factors.  

I might be bias :), but I think Portland metro area is still a good place to invest on the west coast, much cheaper relative to other major west coast cities like SF, LA and Seattle. especially for appreciation, but harder if you are going for cash flow.

Ft Myers was beautiful (this was probably 15 years ago), and Houston was definitely  growing (2 years ago).I'm biased toward Raleigh because I definitely think it's a great place to own property and invest.  

I'm not sure how to take your cheap remark .West Coast bias.

I both broker and direct lend as appropriate (licensed mortgage broker, official job title is loan officer, I really don't care what you call me, but Russell here would probably call me a mortgage broker), so I've got no reason to be biased on this subject.If either channel was always the best, the other channel would have gone out of business years ago. 

Personally, I am biased.

I will admit, I prefer buy and holds as well as flips (new portion of my business), so I am biased towards that approach vs. wholesaling.

I have my thoughts but don't want to bias the discussion.

But for that reason only, I've always been biased against flat roofs.Speaking of flat roofs, my favorite house in my neighborhood is on the street behind me.

Seems non-biased and relevant, but you never know, so check before asking.Oh, yeah -- on the one landlord who was perturbed he had to leave early, how was his tenancy otherwise?