These areas are not only safe and pedestrian-friendly but also offer excellent rental potential due to their proximity to major employment centers and cultural attractions.Upstate NY: Look at cities like White Plains or New Rochelle, which are well-connected via Metro-North to NYC, offer urban conveniences, and have a range of multi-family homes.Seattle Area: Neighborhoods like Capitol Hill or Ballard in Seattle are excellent choices.

But I don't live in those areas, and I don't know the culture.

Was up watching the Notre Dame/Texas game (too bad the Irish lost, great game!)

I am well traveled and very culturally experienced and am a dedicated sales and marketing professional who exceeds goals, retains customers and maintains a strong reputation for customer satisfaction.With all that said, I am looking to understand the US market for both professional and personal reasons. 

And that one risk, is the same one that landed me a job with a local investment bank when I penned a letter directly to the chairman of the board ripping apart his old school view on education after an interview that aired on public television.April 2010: After rising thru the ranks at the bank, I realized the investment banking culture was too cutthroat, and simply not right for me. 

@Major Thanks, I will at Old Louisville, and I am enamored with the shotgun style houses in Germantown and on Irish Hill.

At this point, I am prepared to invest $30-40k for a downpayment and torn between and still learning about 3 options - rehab/flip in San Diego, turnkey cashflow investment in Chicago/Indiana, Out of state rehab/flip.This is really an incredible forum looking at the "ready to share knowledge" culture which further emphasizes in my mind that real estate is really not a zero sum game...I look forward to connecting with folks here...

The owner, Chris, is phenomenal and if it weren't for the way he views customer service and the culture of the company I'm not sure I'd have taken a position in this field.  

Of course, being near Nashville is great for people who love a city with a unique identity, innovation and entrepreneurship, culture, music, food, art, nature, etc, etc.It's more challenging to find good deals in the city now, as it has been a really hot market, but there are still deals to be found a little farther out.Congrats on taking bold steps to improve your life!

It's so culturally diverse and rich community.