This can be risky, what if UC Berkeley stops being the #1 public university on the planet because they let the PC Police run too amok?

Congratulations, you found the best forum on the planet your first try, everyone here is friendly and helpful.

As much as we like to think the grass is greener on the other side, it's not most of the time unfortunately. 

In my day job as an architect, which is the coolest job on the planet, I get to work with all sorts of people, even some investors, so I understand a huge amount of the real estate process just from a vastly different angle (I can tell you an approximation of cost per square foot for new construction in the Greater Seattle Area, but if I am off by $20-$30,000 no big deal).

We are lucky to have one of the best teacher/mentors on the planet in our own backyard.

asking someone on the other side of the planet who knows nothing about you and probably less about RE seems like a not-so-good approach.if you need help fleshing out your ideas or help putting together a business plan, i'd suggest looking for help from organizations like SCORE http://www.score.orgSCORE brings together retired business people to help mentor and coach those who are getting started.

Screening is obviously very important, but even the best screening on the planet won't prevent you from having to evict deadbeats from time to time.

We are Dallas TX investors but Peoria seems like a different planet compared to the metroplex.

It's not a glamorous town but those men and women work hard and the steel company is the most profitable steel company on the planet.

Even if you don't get the best deal on the planet, you will come away from it with a much better idea of what you're made of.