The problem is that even though we know a primary residence should also be thought of as an investment, it pains us to think about having to commute into the Seattle core every day and back out.

But I could sacrifice living away from the city core (for a while) if the result was accelerated portfolio growth.

I've learned something from every episode.As for meeting local RE investors here in Cbus, I recommend that you check out COREE.

Several have hard core smokers and pets. 

We were run out of our neighborhood because two guys felt compelled to push architectural requirements that weren't in the deed restrictions.

Not sure how to use that rent information as we're comparing rooms to a self contained unit, but regardless average rent between 650 (bachelor) to 1000 (2/1).I'm 15 minutes away from city core and a part of the university.

I had worked out what I wanted from a cash flow standpoint for core holdings (small multi-fam) and spent a great deal of time working with the spreadsheets and tools on this site, the stuff on @Jscott's site, and from Frank's group over at realdata.com.

I had to search deep inside my core as an individual as to why I was getting involved in RE.

Just like buying a 30k rental in the URban core of virtually any big city no resale value and probably you are going to get a 30k education but with a lot more stress and sleepless nights than going to a Guru advance training seminar which are all up lifting and up beat at least while your there  :)The systemic issue is for whatever reason people think RE is the way to rich's  the way to quit your day job  etc etc.. and nothing can be farther from the truth..

One thing, without competition everything will be stagnant because competition compels an individual, organization and so on to find better method of doing things.ThanksMatthew.