I decided the layoff was the best thing that ever happened to me, embraced the change, and burned all my bridges so I could never go back.  

Ag isn't doing very well b/c of the drought, but I haven't heard of very many lay offs like the oil layoffs in ag.As far as sales, anything over about 220k is sitting on the market for a long time.

If you buy a large number of properties of the same type, in the same neighborhood, around the same rent range, you are not really diversifying away your risk and a single large layoff at a nearby company could ripple through your entire portfolio.However, if you are buying some multifamilies here, some singles there, some notes, then the increase in number of assets works with you.  

Another example is Houston, as their economy is heavily weighted to the energy sector, with gas prices being so low companies have started to lay off employees so there is no job growth or wage growth in addition to less demand for RE via people purchasing or renting.

VictoriaCloser to you is Robin Hood country and I believe Nottingham is a good consideration for you.Asrar

I had a friend who won't even download Robinhood app that I recommend even though he will get a free stock for just signing up for free because he is scared of getting hack or something.

Fidelity, Vanguard, or Robinhood. 

Finally learned a few things about investing and started robinhood account and bitcoin stuff first.

It shows the labor market is still struggling to recover after the biggest wave of layoffs in American history.

@Darcy Reynolds Sorry to hear about your layoff.