I do not begrudge the sellers in my current market looking for outrageous prices; I recently sold my Silicon Valley properties for equally crazy prices.

Anything more than that may be too much of a hassle and could cause serious problems with your job should the property catch on fire or have some other grave emergency that would require your attention.For California investors, I recommend looking into the Sacramento / Stockton central valley area (homes are half the price of southern California) or Phoenix Metro, Arizona and Las Vegas / Henderson Nevada.

I just started investing with a flipper in Texas but a change in jobs is moving me to the Phoenix valley.

My wife and I currently own and operate a small cabin rental business in Southern Colorado on the Rio Grande River.  

I'm looking to invest in a small multi-family (2-4 unit) over the next 12 months in the Fall River area.

I personally dont go into the west ward or south of the river.

I've got an approximately 500 sq foot deck that is in the location that would work well for addition, it is around 4 foot above grade, on a valley side of a roof.

There are at least 3 in the valley.

I almost convinced her to buy a duplex in Spring Valley area of Las Vegas.

This isn't relevant to the real estate side of your post, and I'm sure you already know about it, but in case you don't, look up the Brazos Valley Sport Riding group on Facebook.