Other people thrive on generating cash flow. 

I survived and thrived during the recession.

Many companies really do not have a product thinking sending messages and photos will thrive. 

Now they will consider less than two years with some evidence that the business will/continue to be successful i.e. you're in the same industry you were in previously, you bought a thriving business with an existing cutomer base etc..

Depends on the lender (because where the property they lent money on once was a vacant lot, it's now a thriving restaurant) and the zoning board (to determine if the property can actually be legally subdivided).I could be wrong, but that's what I'm getting from what you wroteStephanie

I know many thrive in Class C or D.

We only have a limited amount of time in this world so you must use the resources available to you in every way possible and with our economic conditions currency manipulation and hyper inflation your skills and financial IQ needs to be sharp to thrive in the future 

I'm starting in Austin, Texas, because it is a growing, thriving area, and my wife and I want to move there someday.

@Don Van Nguyen Bigger markets like Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin are great markets that are thriving.

I see real estate as another ongoing skill that would be best to learn now and excel at rather than wait and talk about what could have been down the line; life is too short not to thrive!