I am not sure in which areas to concentrate on my search for the flip market.

Don't worry about pay back concentrate on your profits.

I met about 750 people that were in all of those classes I had to take and I did not concentrate enough on how the others could have helped me maybe.  

Investors who flip properties concentrate on the purchase and subsequent resale of one property, or a group of properties.

They both have their strengths and weaknesses and in my opinion both of them belong in a balanced portfolio.2) Direct real estate: If you are cash poor and time rich, a heavy concentration on direct real estate can make sense.

However, there's a saying we often used in the advisory business - it takes concentration to create wealth, and diversification to preserve it (which again goes back to goals - if you just want a decent retirement, investing in the S&P 500 at an early age is fine.

In essence, it may help if you decide on a strategy that you feel or believe will ultimately help you to meet your goals: select a state(s) and concentrate on capitalizing on Tax Sales in those respective areas.

Keep in mind the bank does not want your property they want your money.The risk of a down turn comes primarily when you have not prepared financially, have too few doors to spread the losses and you have too much equity (you lose your equity in a down turn).Concentrate on B markets to insure a solid tenant base regardless of economy.

I'd also be cautious with the holiday season coming up as normally people tend to concentrate on the holidays more than looking for a place to leave.

I bought two properties with no money down, but found I concentrated on improving those properties such that I could refinance and pay off the ballon on the second mortgages before I looked for more properties.Now as I review my next potential purchases, I am looking at a 10 unit that seems mismanaged.