This influx of workers will naturally drive demand for housing, retail, and other services in the surrounding areas, especially in smaller towns and cities that haven't seen major growth in decades.

Denver Union Station Project (Colorado): The city exchanged several smaller parcels of land with a private developer, who in turn constructed a mixed-use development that included retail, office space, and residential units.

what you're proposing, while possible, is incredibly difficult and highly risky, and i don't know how you would do it completely remotely with no plans to visit or set up a team.i think i've said this in other posts, but there is tremendous demand for inventory right now among both retail buyers and investors. 

I think Collin is being a little tongue in cheek with the Boone's Farm comment.I work with a local, large wine store, wait for their semi-annual sales when they compound discounts and buy 2 cases of each (white & red) for the largest discount.Basically I'm setting out wine that retails for $11-12-13 that I have paid $7-8 a bottle.  

Are you purchasing them at full retail value after they're done or are you the one purchase the shell doing the renovation but they're just doing the leg work ? 

I am in retail space not office so just check around.

https://www.har.com/content/department/mlsHouston Real Estate Highlights in November, 2024:-Single-family home sales increased 6.0 percent year-over-year;-Days on Market (DOM) for single-family homes went from 48 to 52 days;-Total property sales were up 3.3 percent with 7,750 units sold;-Total dollar volume rose 11.1 percent to $3.1 billion;-The single-family median price was up 1.5 percent to $329,900;-The single-family average price climbed 4.1 percent to $418,903; -Single-family home months of inventory registered a 4.4-months supply, up from 3.5 months last November.

High LTV purchased at retail (off mls) has large initial negative cash flow- regulations are tenant friendly.  

Unfortunately, the husband lost his job about 8 months ago and, from what I'm told, hasn’t been able to secure another one—not even in retail or fast food.

Mixed-use are retail and residential.