This is why commercial leases are often negotiated with leasing agents and why Lease Agreements look bloated.

You'll have more resiliency from regional trends and, most importantly, you'll keep earning in bloated-costs-of-everything home market and redeploying that capital in linear markets.Pro-tip:  stay the &(*&$*$ away from Austin. 

The driving factors seem to always be- bloated residential prices in every major city (hard to buy)- uncertainty about office space and other commercial options (not sure if buying is smart)Assets we've seen considered DSTsRaw land (ranchland and solar fields)Mineral rightspassive TIC interests, usually with NN or NNN long-term leases and big-name tenants (CVS, 7-Eleven, Dollar General, etc)cooler residential markets, such as in Indiana, Missouri, and ArkansasKeep in mind that if you exchange out of CA and into a different state, the California Franchise Tax Board will require that you file CFTB Form 3840 on an annual basis reporting as to the status of the proceeds you used in the 1031 exchange. 

The driving factors seem to always be - bloated residential prices in every major city (hard to buy) - uncertainty about office space and other commercial options (not sure if buying is smart)Assets we've seen considered DSTsRaw land (ranchland and solar fields)Mineral rightspassive TIC interests, usually with NN or NNN long-term leases and big-name tenants (CVS, 7-Eleven, Dollar General, etc)cooler residential markets, such as in Indiana, Missouri, and Arkansas

We have less state employees and bloated pensions than other states.  

Also, listing price might be bloated itself, so you're actually paying full retail after getting that discount.

I know easier said than done in a bloated market, but that's the only way to do it. 

We have always tried to have the smallest and most affordable house that fit our needs...so we're not going to be buying an unnecessarily large home nor stretching ourselves with a huge bloated mortgage.

It’s much easier to maintain your current lifestyle than to contract a bloated one.

I've been looking primarily in the East Orange/Bloomfield/Newark areas which are still pretty rough along the edges.Is this market simply too bloated/competitive for a starting investor?