There are many people on this site pushing those locations that have not historically kept up with inflation.Btw I advocate all newbies start local even if their local market has not kept up with inflation.  

Do we focus on flipping, (currently we have actually been trying to do this, but we physically can't find enough contractors in our smaller market <100K population to do that much work).

Are you local here?

Not only do some landlords allow their personal and political ideology to be in the mix, but many do not understand how to manage this population.

The big pros are the strong job market (lots of major employers), good population growth, and still-reasonable entry prices.

In suburban Chicago, historical significance or celebrity ties might create a niche appeal, but they won’t necessarily drive up the home’s market value in the same way as location, condition, and local comps.For a short-term rental, though, it could be a great marketing angle—especially if the person is well-known and has a strong local connection.

Finding a potential lot won’t be hard but getting a local municipality to give you the green light to build an MHP is going to be next to impossible.

But honestly, have you just tried going to your local bank to see what they offer you?

I'm a lender local here to Cleveland right downtown and know the market very well.  

I am new to real estate investing and looking to connect with any local investor.