That might make a "human interest" type of difference that will stand out among other dry investor offers.The seller may feel better giving a nice family a nice home and helping the neighbors preserve property values that might be in contrast to fears of what might happen if an investor brings in an undesirable tenant and doesn't maintain the property.Jim.

OP purchased the cheapest deals they could find, so 80% of them are in pretty undesirable areas.

If I am successful, then I will not need to work an undesirable 9-5 after military retirement.

I wouldn't want to rent a nice SMF or unit in MF if I was next to a tire shop, storage buildings, other undesirable neighbors.

However, being in Los Angeles, there are not many nearby markets that cashflow without exposing you to high crime rates, undesirable tenant populations, etc.

Obviously this is more costly than what anyone has to do in this forum but I obviously am more restricted based on my location.I'm fairly confident that I've bought with a reputable person but my worst nightmare is that I've bought in an undesirable area and can't rent it out or worse of all they trash the place.

However, in an undesirable area, that return would be expected.

Long term tenants are extremely undesirable and spending money to maintain the property is a waste of money.

I know there's some risk involved and am quite ready to step up for that inasmuch as I wouldn't be directly involved in the industry but would only be a peripheral investor. 

If you don't have much money, you may want to try wholesaling, just beware though, as many of those off market properties are undesirable and money pits.