But It’s absolutely a beautiful place now.

With that being said, I have still walked away from properties that penciled out beautifully because it was in terrible neighborhoods or was next to something I couldn't fathom living next to (even if only for a year or two).For you, I would say that you have to continue to consider all factors that would make your first investment a good one as well as those that will make you comfortable living there.

Hello @Ben Davis,The beauty about this business is that you can literally change your path as needed. 

We are from the beautiful (but very expensive) Orange County.

Beautiful! 

I used a HELOC for my first investment property here in the Chicago burbs, and it worked out beautifully. 

The excitement and beauty of RE investing is that everything can be a risk, depending on who you ask. 

The beauty of it is that you can run your numbers and keep adjusting them until you know exactly how much you can pay for the property.

If you can provide them with a service (sweat)that they cannot provide them self or with a commodity (time) that they do not have then you may have the start of a beautiful partnership.

So I have a friend with a beautiful newly renovated home that they have outgrown and looking to sell...I do not have a license and they don’t want to pay a listing agent fee if they can avoid it..