I think you will find the Midwest a fruitful investing opportunity.Here in Indianapolis, small multi units [duplex] don't really very well.  

Don't put all your eggs in this basket.  

@Mauricio HernándezLong gone are the days of the low hanging fruit.

These are low hanging fruit leads from a ton of marketing that gets funneled down from virtual assistants and he handles the ones ready to deal. 

Video games are interactive, TV is mind numbing - but I digress) , and adding collective wisdom to my REI knowledge banks.However, if you'd like to create fruit from your time, here are some suggestions:1.  

I'm sure others have done it with the HELOC as you described. i just like taking the low lying fruit of what financing is easily available.

I want a place I can call "home" but I don't want to put all my eggs in one basket and put myself in a position where I'm just working to live paying bills and can never accumulate enough money to make my next move.

As a side note, I was in the area this past Friday helping to build raised gardening boxes on a one time vacant lot for a community garden that will allow area neighbors to grow there own fruits and vegetables. 

If you can imagine a timeline whereby PR decides to sell property for a variety of reasons, the early sellers will be picked off by many different buyers competitions for the low hanging fruit deals.

If I can get the use of it or fruits from it or title to it and after taxes it doesn't cost me anything, after considering my time of messing with it, then it is a deal.