@Chris Ke With $200K for a down payment and the ability to invest full-time, consider starting with a 4-plex or multiple single-family homes (SFHs) within a 5-hour drive of Los Angeles in areas like San Bernardino or Riverside.

I work a lot, probably more than the average W2, but we also travel a lot, at least 6 trips every year.So that's what's driving me, numbers on a screen are nice, but they are not fulfilling on a personal level.

However, it’s important to ensure the area is safe.

It takes getting off the road everyone else is driving (the MLS) and putting some work into it.

I did find this deal driving driving for dollars, the realtor of the property was adding his sign in the front yard, I approached to make and offer. we close in 3 weeks.

There really isn't a safe, secure way for someone to protect their interests.

Buyers don’t care if you shelled out more on the rehab, if you’re priced too high, you’ll end up sitting on the market way longer than you want, driving up holding costs.Lastly if your buying on market, REO or Corporate sellers are dominating and not as willing to negotiate as owners would.

However, this has back-fired because it takes time to drive out to the home only to get a firm "NO" to your request.   

Conveniently located in Bryan TX, within walking distance to A&M Bus stop and a short 5 minutes drive to College Station, home to the largest university in the state, Texas A&M.

The truly tragic natural disasters in California, North Carolina, Florida and others of the past six months are evidence that no location is truly 'climate safe,' however there are geographical areas that can expect less weather extremes and lower costs of living, developing, insuring and seemingly...surviving.