Retail tenants do not like disruptions in business and moving so will only do it when absolutely necessary.Would only touch regular office in urban core areas.

Most of that is urban legend although there are some "Original Doc" states where the courts require the lender/bank/servicer to produce the original note.

PVP (including the less jumbled up blocks/areas of san pedro) is synonymous with luxury (unlike Compton and increasingly many urban areas of socal) so at least there is value added / luxury potential appeal to any multifamily you invest in, ie get as a fixer upper deal and actually hold long term for rent cashflow - as opposed to flipping(which subjects u to capital gains).

Obviously, there are fewer properties, fewer employers, less demand for rental housing, as opposed to high density urban areas,  but I'd like to stay within a reasonable distance from my "starter property", as I currently live NW of Mpls., about that distance away.

Welcome to BP @Ryan Gibson If you like the idea of urban redevelopment and turning around blighted properties, you only need to look up the road to Baltimore to find plenty of opportunity for that 

I normally have a no-pets policy  (which stems from bitter experiences and Urban Farming)  but allowed them in the case.  

Is it in a rural area or urban?

Urban sprawl just doesn't equate to true, sustainable growth to me.  

Ok, this is what we got...My mom bought a condo (140k) 6 months ago with the idea of renting it and have a passive income, long strory short the HOA didn't allow her to rent it, just for her (or family) to live in, so now she is thinking about selling it again (she doesn't live in the US).She got a very good offer (170k) but I think that the market in that area is still growing because of the urban developments there (shopping mall, convention center, etc).On the other hand the apt is empty and it's costing her around $400 in HOA fees.What would you do?

At least that's what society has told me.