We've set ambitious goals and are open to exploring diverse strategies to achieve them.

We have RE in fairly diverse areas in San Diego. 

Personally, as an investor I like to see either strong population growth or a diverse economy with multiple industries for a long-term rental investment property.

But long-term return is ultimately driven by population growth, job growth, income growth, diversity of industry, constrained supply, and other factors (most related to "growth".

Friends, I always appreciate the viewpoints and diversity of views and experience that enter the recession discussion.  

However, there's a diverse crowd here on BP, and not everyone is at your level. $25K can be a dinner for some BPers, a month income for some other BPers, or a total bank account balance for some other BFers.In OP's case, he's young, and new.

Most law texts will tell you that decisions of state supreme courts are binding on federal courts interpreting state law under diversity jurisdiction.

@Jennifer Pauyo I am in Cincinnati/northern KY area and invest in Ohio and urban and rural areas in KY.Whenever I go to our local REIA meetings I am amazed at the diversity and the number of women investors.

Clearly you want a good operator and a good manager at minimum, but an area increasing in average rents by 4% a year and seeing a 3% per year influx of immigrants and with a plentiful and diverse jobs base can tolerate a little "sleeping at the wheel" on the part of operators. 

After doing some research, it looks like job growth, industry diversity, and population growth are all strong in the area.