Unfortunately, the further south I buy the more issues I come across due to the surrounding homes/theft occurrences with my rentals.

If you rehab a house in one of the neighborhoods you're considering will it be surrounded by other abandoned distressed properties or are these abandoned properties located in decent neighborhoods that people will want to live? 

Are they interested or concerned about neighborhood crime, supporting data for surrounding rental rates that might affect your future cash flow, pictures or video of the property showing the class of the neighborhood and the property itself, ... ?

My thesis was that this would lead to increased investment in the surrounding neighborhood and home values would increase.

Is the surrounding areas trending also with increased density?

I'm specifically asking my question surrounding my 3-unit residential building.

Surround yourself with supportive people to build confidence and success in the industry.Good Luck!

And the rules surrounding replacement are much more relaxed.  

It is vital to surround yourself with a strong support system.4.You will become very aware of your goals and that most individuals do not have goals further than next week.

However, over the last 20 years there have been some favorable plms and rev rulings (particularly surrounding trusts) that owning a membership in an entity and converting that to tic still equated to the same level of ownership.