Do sunshine and beaches matter more, or a strong job market in your specific field?

Best of luck to you no matter what you decide!

Dig deep for online reviews, Better Business Bureau and their State Real Estate Board, etc.- Do be open-minded though as we have many of the above from tenants who claim we illegally evicted them (so, somehow we got a signed Write illegally?)

@Zachariah Prevost You stated that when a bank goes to sell the home loan to Fannie/Freddie or any other willing buyer for that matter, that they are stripping away the Mortgage/DOT from the note.

Also, your real estate goal matters too.  

Of course, IRR matters too, but you get a better IRR when you leverage as well, so that doesn't strengthen the all cash argument.My main point, if one is to be taken, is that an all cash investor should really look at their expected ROI.

It doesn't matter if it's a mortgage, HELOC, or Mr.

I never make a loan, no matter the equity position, that the past actions of the borrowers lead me to wonder if they will be likely to pay me back. 

Those things won't matter if your business crushes it.

I've used an online designer before, you send her photos, measurements of the room and existing furniture, and your budget and she presents you with design options and the links to buy!