It's not equivalent- It's also the tax code and numerous cases supporting it....you don't really get to just "think outside the box". 

Take this with a grain of salt as it's been a few years since I've been to Chicago, but I view 63rd and Halsted as a war zone.

@Jay Gousman @Shaye Mann You both have numerous investment options/strategies in the Phoenix metro market, so many in fact that it can be overwhelming for new investors to narrow down what they want to do.

Most streets are laid out on a grid, and all the major ones running North/South are alphabetical one way and the East/West are numerical.  

I posted numerous times about how everyone and their mothers are in the game with the rising market, I got to auctions and there is like 100-200 people in Bergen County just driving prices to crazy levels... if it's not the prices being driven up, the bank wants something totally ridiculous. 

If you are passionate you can make time and there are numerous ways to obtain financing using OPM (other people's money) so that should never discourage you.

I've bought and sold rentals in blue collar and war zones. 

Is it worth missing out on this deal for $x/month... or ask yourself, "Is this a good time to sit on the sidelines and build my war-chest for when interest rates hike up another point and start flushing out all those folk who overpaid for their properties?"

Based on my google maps street view that was updated six months ago, it appears numerous pickets are missing at random intervals.

There are numerous investing opportunities in Scottsdale including single family homes, condos, townhouses, as well as pockets of 2-4 unit multis in prime areas.