I think I am on a path to recovery, ready to check out the market tools to finally pick and market and find some deals!

Is there any value in flying to another part of the country, whether it be Pittsburgh or LA, to visit a project that I invested in? 

Alabama ranks 8th in the country for low cost of living.- No one particular industry takes over more than 18% of the job pool leaving plenty of diversification for a safer market to invest in.

Bend - Very few places in the country with the density of luxury new construction properties being developed.Ashland - Micro Bend.

Buy properties (in the path of progress) that need TLC and add value (rehab, raise rents, reduce costs, increase NOI).

I am on the board at CFRI (Central Florida Realty Investors), the local chapter to the national REIA and one of the largest in the country. 

Walk/bike path along the front road. 

If you are interested in STR, that is a great path to go down this year.

If that isn't feasible for his situation I'd recommend looking for rentals in the southern/middle part of the country where price points are much easier and the laws are landlord friendly.

(This is in the Southeast part of the country.)Market FundamentalsPopulation Growth: 1.8%Median Household Income: $77,573Wage/Income Growth: 7.3%Unemployment Rate: 4.2%Job Growth: 2.7% (slight decline last 2 yrs)Home Ownership Rate: 59%Median Age:  35Employers are stables between Health, Tech., National Retailers & Shipping Companies, local schools and BankingCrime is 1.06 Violent Crimes & 9.82 for Property CrimesSchools are on average 6/7 out of 10.