Save up enough so that if you buy a place and the roof caves or all your hvac units explode, you have the funds to cover it.

It does take time but will explode your earning power and ability to invest.

I also see more targeted investment plays around our exploding universities (ASU in Tempe, ASU and UofA in downtown Phoenix, and Grand Canyon University in NW Phoenix). 

She called me because the picture window in her living room spontaneously exploded and the owner (also the failed flipper) blamed her, well come to find out this genius cut a big hole in a load bearing exterior wall for this window but had neglected to put a header in so when a big heavy snow came, the pressure was too much for the window and it followed the path of least resistance. this happened 2 consecutive winters. a home inspector would not have caught that because it is hidden behind sheetrock but if the work had been permitted, it never would fly. my point is that an inspector can only inspect what they can see and that many flippers either have no clue what they are doing, are trying to cut corners, or don't care. there ARE some good and responsible flippers but when I know a house has been flipped, I am always suspicious.

And then the cash flow explodes and guess what, people on the internet are telling you that you can’t make money in Vegas on real estate.

However, Denver's rent rates recently exploded.

.  :-)As @Sam Wilson said - come out to MIG and your network will explode. 

The problem is with Gastonia is this: (it's not the commute, because it's not far from the international airport, and you can be in Charlotte in the same amount of time it takes from Rock Hill or Lake Norman (two exploding areas)..) the problem with Gastonia is taxes and mismanagement of infrastructure funds.

They are expanding the major freeway that connects Pearland to downtown so traffic is bad right now, but I believe they are expected to finish in late 2019 so the area is only going to explode more than it already is.

@Autumn Alexander From what I've seen, Little Havana has been exploding in regards to investor-interest since about 2015.