The definition of true passive investing is this : "regardless of any time you spend on that particular investment, whether it be 5 minutes, 5 hours, 5 days, it has absolutely no influence on the outcome of that investment".  

I'm here to learn as much as possible and I'm excited to see how the knowledge Bigger Pockets provides influences and improves our plan. 

Through my SOI (Sphere Of Influence).

If they have to be 4,000 sq ft then no the deal is not all that great but if they are less than 3,000 then of course it a nice deal that I am sure a builder would pick up as long as there is no other hair on it like Karen suggests or that the market won't really support it because of neighborhing influences like Mark Suggest...

However, I am looking to move closer in and have been hunting through LA's neighborhoods myself in trying to decide where my next play is.My thinking has been influenced by David Schumacher's book - Buy and Hold.  

Hi TimYes, we would be living in one of the units, which partly did influence our decision to look closer at this property because it is a nicer, newer property, built in the early 2000s.

I can read blog posts by news reporters on some aspect of RE and can tell they don't have a clue, at least they are just telling a story but with a style to influence others.....usually for public consumption.Same with RE investors, mentors, coaches as they get into more technical aspects, the blogs are skewed with opinion presented as factual.

, but how can property owners/managers have a positive influence on the community?

Some markets, such as Memphis, have been so heavily influenced by the recent swell of investors, it might become saturated pretty soon.

Your education would put you in a position of influence, help you network with more like minded people, and would of course, land you a business or job that would help fund your real estate endeavors.