Given the current political climate I'd be very careful about getting the "smell" on me of taking advantage off people who've fallen on hard times.

I am currently focusing on Texas in particular.I am looking to invest in cities with the following considerations:- Solid B / B+ zip codes- Warm climate but no danger zones - Densely populated areas- Mixture of both blue and white collar population - Continued job growth- Population growth - Hot rental market with many renters vs buyers - Low vacancy ratesPlease educate me on zip codes I should look at, what average rent rates are for 1 & 2 bedrooms, and what I should expect to pay per door.

Cement and tile do not play well in our northern climate (unless they are heated or restricted to areas like washrooms and laundry rooms), but we use linoleum, bamboo, hardwood, laminate and even vinyl (plank, tile, or sheet) depending upon the unit and the market segment at which it is targeted.

If youre in dry climate conditions, vinyl plank is a good idea since you can peel one piece at a time and its durable, but tile is always a safe bet.

I am trying to specialize in energy efficient homes and I'm thinking that the thermal and moisture protection division will vary a lot due to differences in the climate the house is being built, precipitation, solar orientation of house, level of energy consciousness of buyer, price of solar pv, local source of recycled materials, additional labor to air seal and insulate correctly, etc. 

The point of this article is that jobs are leaving California due unfavorable business climate. 

While the paid free and clear 1998 with 200k miles on it may work in you milder climate states,  up here in WNY dependability is my biggest concern and knowing I can fire up and go on a -14 morning is worth every penny. 

But, that depends on the type and size of the septic system, your local climate, and the number of people using the system.

The main issue might be foundation related for some climates.

Denver's climate is similar to Vegas, so anything that can survive on its own has the ability to find the tiniest leak and exploit it.