It'll likely to benefit them one way or another if you choose to invest there.Unfortunately the market is not the same as what it used to be. 1% rule exists in areas where you wouldn't want to step on, with the hopes that area will over time get better.One very important investment factor is, the tenant pool you'll be targeting. 

There are multiple companies investing in Casa Grande, building large office campuses, factories, and plants.

The area was beautiful, good jobs and factories in the area. 

Orbital Sciences is Expanding here, Norththrop Grumman just build a new factory, and GM just built a new test facility… there are high end jobs here

He also said that the going hourly rate for an entry-level untrained factory worker in Northern Nevada was $30!

The other piece to factor is the amount of time that it takes to secure a HELOC which is averaging anywhere from 3-6 monhts (I'm currently nearly three months into a HELOC application for my rental).

(That's 9 am-9 pm 6 days a week, typical Chinese factory hours.)

Another HUGE factor is the stormwater requirements of the City.

They were new in the sense one was a high school totally transformed into a condo with glass elevators, another a former aircraft factory converted into brand new condos.What were the problems?

Another major factor is time.