@Daniel Molina Yes, my SFR is in Fair Oaks’ Northridge Country Club neighborhood.

The city is seeing growth from the arrival of a $20 billion Intel chip plant and other businesses expanding like Amazon and Honda.

Intel is investing $20 billion to build chip manufacturing plants in Licking County, which is projected to create 30,000 new jobs.

To make a gentrification play I would definitely look in the Heights/Museum District/River Oaks area.

In addition, Chicago REIA has a ton of meet-ups in Lombard/Oak Brook and we also keep track of a huge chunk of the Chicagoland events at https://www.straightupchicagoinvestor.com/chicago-real-estate-investor-meetups.

If you buy it right you might be able to make a little but don't mistake that for appreciation.Check your expenses that all-in number seems a bit low unless you are chipping in a significant down. 

You'd be putting your chips in your town's local job market.

After reading a couple of posts here I have decided to go with J Scott's recommendationWalls - SW Realist BeigeTrim & Doors - Semi gloss whiteCeiling - Ceiling WhiteFlooring is a Gunstock Oak and still debating between Natural Oak or White colored cabinets.  

We have enough to chip in and cover the monthly carrying cost if needed and were hoping renting it out during the hot summer months would make it a nice mixed-use vacation/ investment property. 

Keep chipping away each day and keep that attitude.