It's a place thriving with fresh up and coming businesses, schools (SMC, UCLA) and hospitals (Ronald Reagan, St Johns, etc).

But I am pretty sure the investors I have met who thrive in CA (and Vegas) don't need the 1% rule to make a great profit.  

Manchester is a big thriving city that is still regenerating various areas and although developers flooded the market with new build flats a decade ago the inevitable drop in values and rentals has rectified it's self and growth is seen once more.With regard to further learning, local property meets where you can meet like minded investors (as well as someone pitching education and a variety of services) are invaluable to round your opinions and hear from people who are in the same position as you or were some time ago.As far as rental locations for students be mindful of the swathe of new builds in the bigger cities that have been build by universities them selves and the growing number that have build with investors in mind.

I certainly agree that buying in a neighborhood with mostly higher end well maintained houses, near great schools and in a thriving economy has great potential for appreciation.

We well have to get around to doing that someday if we're going to thrive the way that we can.

I don't know a thriving detroit.  

Overall, you will find all of the amenities a family needs to thrive in the  neighborhood.

They keep throwing money into it because every guru tells them a thriving city has a wonderful downtown, but once again Stockton's downtown is not dying, its dead! 

I do not want to live on w2 income, i want to live/ thrive on passive income, cash flow, etc. which explains the reason why im interested in investing in real estate, more so multi family/ commercial real estate before my 30's.I have always been a risk taker in life, very ambitious, strong minded individual.

Several people who remain there build generational wealth and enjoy a thriving environment.