I’m about to start my 3rd long distance flip on a century home (1900’s), i love fixing them up

People coming from NYC think $300/night for a 3 br house is the deal of the century.  

So bottom line, I don't think you need to get the deal of the century if you are looking for a home for you and your family to be happy in for the foreseeable future. 

The understatement of the Century.

Its discussed here on BP, but honestly haven't paid much attention.Are you trying to get into the "21st century" and just do mobile payments only? 

Your overall return would be much higher here in San Diego than most areas of the country especially when accounting for appreciation (Approx 5% YOY for past half century) and principal pay down.

Right now we have a sever housing shortage, but maybe population decline will help that (by the end of the century).

However, the housing stock is very old and the houses are all from the turn of the century.

You might have to find one who is not quite so local to yours or who is part of a chain like Century 21 or something that might work along side someone closer if a different branch office has the international marketing designation.

Owners of some conventional high-rises that were built to serve the corporate culture of the 20th century have responded to the trend by making the outdoor spaces they do have more welcoming, with gardens, coffee stations, decks and seating meant to reverse the air of exclusivity prized by builders and tenants in the 1980s.