What are your suggestions & strategies for making it work, so that it isn’t costing me money in the short term & long term???

I suggest interviewing teams of realtors, contractors, lenders, and property managers in each market.

It's crazy to think some RE agents are suggesting owners to put their houses up cause fed funds reduced, they completely misunderstand but I let the market do what it does-- market.

I was being factious with the suggestion that PP folks would run up to the high desert they are more likely to go out to La quinta and one of the many private clubs there which will have housing to their standards ..  

I wouldn't knock down anything, it was suggested that I remodeled the two that I have.

For more suggestions, try a google search.BatchSkipTracing

Some residents even suggest he find a new job.

Maybe you like the risk, but good and great investors don't try stuff like you suggest.

I might suggest going directly to one of these guys. 

I'm open to all suggestions regarding different cities that meet my requirements and would love to chat with some realtors who have local experience working with investors.