Markets closer to your back yard are easier to get started in.

Pencil this in backwards and see where you are in relation to your lon-term goals.....this could be salvaged with patience and smarts.

I did provide yard maintenance at his request when I first took over the property. about 1 year ago. 

I am having challenges finding warehouse space with fenced yards.   

So you're the guy cleaning up the yard, trashing out the house, working the rehab or supervising the rehab, learn some of the work you could do without much time...paint, demo, basic repair, cleanup, etc.   

Rain water used to sit in back yard and crawlspace.

I've had success in the past from apartments.com, zillow, and posting yard signs.

I totally agree it would be ideal to buy in my back yard.

And you should always have a backup lockbox on your property in the back yard with an extra key. 

Then it didn’t pass the city inspection because of landscaping debris and tree branches that fell in my yard, so I put in $5k more.After 6 months of vacancy, a new tenant moved in and immediately began complaining about everything.