build it instead of buying it. especially in the 5-50 range you are going to get garbage that's 80-120 years old in c neighborhoods. i can find land in almost any zip code and make the numbers work in columbus. or partner on a project locally. just my 2 cents but build to rent is much stronger right now in my opinion in columbus than buying existing assets 

I would do everything in my power to buy or rent in a neighborhood with the best school I could afford.

Quote from @Anthony Michael Hamza: Investment Info:Single-family residence buy & hold investment.

Quote from @Sean Pedeflous: I own a duplex in Fayetteville Arkansas and the city is buying part of my backyard to add a trail which connects to a great local park.

I’m from Houston and particularly interested in the Houston market and its surrounding areas so it is easier to manage.My Criteria:* To buy: 3bd/3ba property at Max: $350K.

Now go drive to buy one, of course it's end of the day.  

.- We used to buy locks at Home Depot and just swap handsets, but now use a locksmith for same cost.2) Get rid of handset locks (use passage knobs) and only use deadbolts.- Two locks on a door really don't provide any additional security.- Cheaper as only have to rekey/replace deadbolts.- Tenants can't lock keys in their home.3) Our locksmith created a Master Key system with 10 key option.- One master key opens every door- We go 3 levels under our master, so we can submaster 2-4 unit houses and apartment buildings- Don't need a costly and difficult to secure & track keybox.

I own a primary home in CA and looking to buy an investment property home.

same with us, we study infill every day though through case examples. the best part about infill is no risk. buying lots like what builders are doing even national builders still are shifting the risk to local land developers. my recommendation is to look at permitted uses, price per acre, etc. if you want lower risk buy a larger tract of land from a large developer out of a 100+ acre development to lower the risk. if you are doing it from scratch work with a group who's doing subdivisions. you can go and read the subdivision plats in your recorders office online every county has one. in columbus where I do the majority of our development we are specifically starting to target zones where the economics are also favorable.

Goal is long term rental buy and hold.