Drive to Silicon Valley ( two hours driving a day ) , work till 7:00 or so, go home and crash. 

In order to stretch further away, it is an 8 hour drive or an hour flight. 

I grew up in a northwest suburb an hour to an hour 15 minute drive away from where I currently live in Chicago; and my parents still live out that way.

There are 4 to 5 houses on this private drive way which is paved like a street but is not maintained by the city and most if not all of these houses belong to family members in the estate.I have to concerns about buying this property and please fill me in on your thoughts and opinions.  1. 

Consider emerging Sunbelt markets like Phoenix, Tampa, or parts of North Carolina (like Raleigh or Charlotte) that continue to see high migration and job growth, driving both appreciation and rental demand.

Our battery went out and our son had to crawl through a basement window but I doubt too many people could have done that, he was impressed by our increased security but didn't want to drive 2 hours back home so he found a way.  

after reading all of these comments, I don't want to waste my time ( considering I have to drive 1.5 hours each way to the workshop).

The next neighborhood over (literally across the street) is pretty nice, but falls in a different township that has higher property tax, and then the next neighborhood (about a 4 min drive and 15 minute walk) is much lower end, and while fine class C-ish area, you can't push rents much, and the village has its own income tax, so you will pay 2% of your net to the village...But back to first comment: take 4-5 days and travel to each.  

And you have to really know the market and area we did not have the time to drive everything you just had to already have knowledge of the area and what the parcels looked like etc..

I’m sure every city has areas that should be avoided, so your perspective would be invaluable for many.Tallmadge itself is a nice city, Goodyear heights is spotty and can be nice in a few block area and turn poorer as you drive down the street .