Anyone in TX would be thrilled to get 10%/year, but anyone in CA that didn't get at least that would have to be....ummmm, have to be.....

I got such a thrill out of it that I even read it to my wife!

It's early and I am not thrilled with that last sentence buy you get the idea. 

I'm sure the neighbors are thrilled to have that eyesore cleaned up, too. 

:(Ultimately comfort, location, and amenities of a SFH in the area we liked most won over trying to reduce costs and live in areas we weren't thrilled in and with tenants.

If you go into this thinking that making money out of state is as easy as sending out a few posts and looking for "turn-key" guys, you might as well just go to a casino and place your money on red at the roulette table.

I am thrilled that some are doing well enough that it may not be long before I am able to turn to them for the same sort of assistance that they are now turning to me for. 

Newer investors should restrict gambling to the casino and only use the money they can afford to lose, but older more seasoned investors can afford the risk.

I tend to avoid the areas by the mall, casino and down S.

If you're living there, you're kind of in a good place between having good shopping plazas nearby, highways, the new casino, if you're able to live for free (in this market especially) it's a good deal in my opinion.