I own an environmental consulting corporation and am a real estate investor (currently selling all of rental houses in seven states - taking profits, and see a cycle peak and downturn coming) 

To me, it’s about consciously making the choice to identify why level I’m comfortable spending at and redirect excess income to investments.

The problem is building and environmental restrictions make it difficult and expensive to build.

I'm very conscious about it.

You have to consciously commit to living well below your means, and work toward that goal, either by greatly increasing your means or by cutting down on your expenses, but preferably both. 

In the end, residential-ARV is a collective consciousness or 'opinion' as opposed to commercial real estate valuations which are cap-rate and income-to-expense driven, rather than emotional and comparative in nature as residential real estate is.

In all seriousness - it is part of making a conscious effort to expand my social/biz network. 

Environmental diversity is outstanding, ocean, mountains, desert all are in the county. 

Separately there are environmental issues like lead and other things that can lead to disability in some neighborhoods.

But when you consciously choose to invest in the not-so-nice locations, BUILD, BUILD, BUILD becomes extremely important.