The major employers in Pierce county are the Military and Healthcare - neither of which are at risk of picking up and leaving.Depending on the asset and submarket, some people think their property is worth more than it is (and they're getting it) so sit and watch for the right project for you.I disagree with Mike (above) on two points.

That area is next to a healthcare hub, there is Kings County Hospital, Downstate Medical Center, Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center and Brookdale Hospital.

I guess the goal would be financial freedom, though I don't know that either of us are going to quit our jobs in the next 5-10 years. 

The idea of financial freedom lights a fire in my soul.I would like to begin investing in Shelbyville, Indiana where I live. 

Freedom is a word that describes the most sought-after lifestyle on the planet, said renown ski filmmaker, Warren Miller.

1) Rich Dad Poor Dad (READ THIS DAMN BOOK)2) I Will Teach You To Be Rich (Hands down 110% the best book EVER, this WILL change your life as I can attest to as I'm implementing the tips in my life now) 3) Set For Life (This is the mindset and goals you must have to achieve Financial Freedom)4) The One Thing (What can YOU do NOW to BENEFIT you later)5) The Four Hour Work Week (No it's not about working 4hrs a week, it's about optimising your time and it works!)

There are alot of ways to achieve financial freedom in real estate but it helps you build a foundation better if you can start off in one niche and grow from there

I haven't read the book you reference but generally Cash Flow gives you freedom when you've built up enough monthly cash flow to cover your needs.

As we made our way through Brandon's book on rental property investing and we're just about ready to take the first step in our journey toward financial freedom.

This same flexibility unfortunately means that sometimes tenants are able to take advantage of mom and pop investors, so some of them will have horror stories about nightmare tenants and evictions.When it comes down to it, many mom and pop investors were able to use real estate to pursue financial freedom.