His wife spends most of her time with the kids and transporting them to their extracurriculars, bc he's pretty much tied up after work also with clients.

Is it as simple as proximity to transportation, entertainment, and freeways?

in California  and transportation as well. 

In terms of analyzing markets:• Does the area have good access to public transportation?

Its tough to start out in this area at this time with the prices around the Medford area, but there are still some opportunities looking a little further out in the areas such as Malden and Everett but it is also not bad to look further towards anything close to public transportation into the city.

@Brandon LewisFor investment properties I look for several key indicators- Local businesses/restaurants/shopping centers near by- Easy access to public transportation- Proximity to local schools and the quality of those schools- Investment in the area (is the area being built up/commercialized?)

I need to transport some items anyway, so will look at Tuesday instead of the weekend (for a change!). 

The mining and logging industry ranked first in job creation followed by construction; transportation, warehousing, and utilities; professional and business services; leisure and hospitality; and financial activities.All Texas metros except Brownsville-Harlingen, Victoria, Beaumont-Port Arthur, and Corpus Christi had more jobs.

Let's assume desirable neighborhood, close to public transportation, etc but no chance of ever qualifying for standard financing.  

Go to church, get lunch with friends, have a potluck with your neighbors, take public transportation and talk with the drivers, volunteer and network with others, keep posting on the BP forums and send requests to people in your area, etc.